It’s true that endurance athletes require more protein than their sedentary counterparts. And while many athletes meet or exceed the recommended daily protein requirement, they may not be distributing their protein intake appropriately. Consuming too much protein can be as risky as not having enough. Excess protein increases the production of ammonia (as a waste product), which the body eliminates via urine and sweat. As a result, ridding the body of ammonia requires adequate hydration to process the waste. Alternatively, inadequate protein intake can negatively affect the formation of hormones and enzymes and hinder muscle recovery/repair post workout.
The Healthy, Balanced Athlete
Endurance athletes spend hours training, and there are benefits to being fit: a lower resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, better sleep quality, and a calmer mind. But sadly, the ability to eat whatever you want without impacting your performance and body composition isn’t one of these perks. Before you reach for the cookie jar, read on for tips to make a balanced diet for athletes easier.
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
It’s the elephant in the room, or in some cases goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed – for way too long. But, it is real and it is dangerous. The sad truth is that it affects all ages, male and female (although more female), and especially in sports such as gymnastics, running, bodybuilding, endurance sports, and wrestling all which place an emphasis on the athlete’s appearance, size, weight and diet.