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The 3 Macronutrients Athletes Need and How They Help Your Body
If you’re an athlete or you’re training athletes, you know that the food you eat has a direct effect on your body. If you’ve got a big game or meet coming up, you’ll want to adjust your diet accordingly. Read on to learn a little bit about the three major macronutrients and how they affect you.
- Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of quick energy. Most experts estimate that an athlete’s diet should consist of about 45-60 percent carbohydrates. Before a major game or very active aerobic activity (like a long run), some athletes choose to “carbo-load” the night before to make sure they have plenty of energy available. However, carbo-loading is only beneficial for long and very intensive exercises.
- Protein. Protein is an essential macronutrient for muscle growth and repair. Protein also contains amino acids, which are essential for healthy brain functioning and hormone synthesis. Village Catering knows that protein is one of the most important macronutrients in an athlete’s diet, so proper meals for athletes need to have plenty of lean protein.
- Fat. Many people believe that eating fat will cause them to gain weight. However, this isn’t necessarily true. While it’s true that fats have more calories per gram than both carbohydrates and protein, the body does need some fat to synthesize vitamins, brain development, and overall cell functioning. Fat is also crucial when it comes to repairing tissues and ligaments, which makes it especially important for injured athletes.
Athletic catering from Village Catering can help keep your team on top of your game this fall season. To learn more about how athletic catering can help your team maximize their performance, give our team a call today or fill out a contact form.