Food for thought

Sarah Taryam, Arts Editor

Nutrition is one of the most vital aspects of fitness. Inspired by the Olympics, this week we are taking a closer look into the subject of nutrition and how exactly it differs when we are talking about professional athletes in comparison to your average gym-goer.

When it comes to professional athletes, having the right nutrition makes a huge difference in maximising performance, reducing injuries and ensuring a quick recovery time after practice and competitions. However, when it comes to you and me and the folks that don’t have Paris 2024 in their sights, we can be a little more relaxed.

For us, eating a healthy varied diet is really important if we want to make the most out of our workouts and look the best we can. This means making sure to get five-a-day of fruit and vegetables, going for wholegrain carbohydrates and good protein. Good protein includes plant-based proteins like lentils and beans as well as animal proteins like eggs and fish. Hydration is also very important for everyone.

Ordinary exercisers do not need to worry about having extra protein as much as athletes do. If you are lifting weights, you may need more than if you are a runner but on average people need between 1.2-1.7g of protein per kg of body weight a day, not more.

When it comes to exercising on an empty stomach, it all comes down to personal choice and ability. If you do choose not to eat before a morning workout make sure to have a decent sized breakfast after you finish. You could also choose to have a late snack the night before.