For many years a low carbohydrate diet has been the norm for anyone who is watching their waistline.
This heavily promoted diet amongst celebrities, fitness trainers, popular media and now the common everyday individual has created much confusion over what is a necessary carbohydrate versus an unnecessary carbohydrate.
As such, all carbohydrates have fallen into a red, stop, do not eat category.
In order to change such an idea, one mush understand the difference amongst carbohydrates and conclude they are not all created equal with equal value in our diet. All carbohydrates have same number of calories per gram but they do not have the same nutritional value.
Athletes must consume 60 percent of their diet from real, alive, grown from the earth carbohydrates.
Depending on the age and intensity of the athlete's sport energy requirements could range from 4000 kcal- 6000 kcal per day. They need the fuel! Their bodies are no different than a finely tuned sports car! You put garbage gas in it, it will not run optimally. Same with body.
Keep highly processed carbohydrates out of the athletes diet, ie, white bread, pastries, refined cereal's, sugary muffins, sugary cereal bars, candy, and all products that contain high fructose corn syrup. Read all labels.
Add to the diet, real fruits and vegetables grown in season. Apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, plums, potatoes, squash, variety of peppers, cucumbers, green leafy lettuce, etc. Use whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, steel cut oats, oatmeal, sprouted grain bread, rye bread, and use spelt or whole wheat flour for baking instead of enriched white flour.
Ensure breakfast is hearty and predominately carbohydrate based with some protein and fat.
Most importantly let's teach our athletes carbohydrates are the source of fuel they need to perform their best every- time and all the time.
Naomi. aka Sports Fan Mom and Nutritionist!
www.iovw.ca
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