Nutrition plays a significant role in training, recovery, development, and well-being. We further emphasize proper nutrition in endurance sports, where high exercise levels significantly increase your energy consumption.
Exercise and nutrition are closely linked, even tighter than you might think. Some say that nutrition can make up to 70 percent of the results. So it is essential to eat right if you want to achieve your goals.
Maintaining the body’s biological and physiological functions requires that we receive energy from carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. The need for power depends on the level of activity: what you train, how much, and at what intensity.
Engaging in an endurance event like a triathlon or marathon differs from shorter events or a trip to the gym. Before endurance exercise, have a meal that contains some protein and carbohydrates. It is good to have only moderate amounts of fat and fiber to avoid stomach problems during activity.
Eat a quality daily diet
1. Carbohydrates
In typical nutrition for training, carbs make up around 50%. In endurance training, that amount goes up to 60% to 70%.
Types of foods you should eat are fresh fruits, whole grains, fresh vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Have ratios for servings 15/6/6/5 per day, respectively. Your body needs some time to get used to this if you are new to endurance training,
2. Protein
Muscles need protein to rebuild and repair. Endurance trainer needs more protein than the non-endurance trainer.
Good sources of protein include eggs, fish, lean meat, and dairy products. But don’t go overboard with it. 3 to 5 portions of protein per day is ok. Too much can harm your ability to create and restore glycogen for muscles and can even hurt performance.
3. Fat
The amount of fat stays the same in endurance training and regular training. About 30% of your total intake should be composed of fat. Only 10% of that amount should be from saturated sources and if possible zero from trans fat.
Saturated fat sources include bacon, hot dogs, fried foods, ice cream, and baked products. Have these sparingly if at all. Instead, take your fat from unsaturated sources, including lean meats, fatty fish, low-fat dairy, nuts, olive oil, and seeds.
4. Hydration
These food calculations are not for use if you don’t hydrate correctly. Amount of fluid varies from person-to-person. It depends on air temperature, humidity, altitude, and how much you sweat, and so on.
As a general rule, you can observe your hydration level by the color of your urine. When adequately hydrated, it should be clear to light yellow. You need more water if it gets dark yellow.
For longer endurance exercises water may not be enough. Alternate between electrolyte-laden sports drinks and water when on lengthy runs.
It might take some time to find the right hydration level and the right amounts of food. Adjust these according to your body type, training methods, and environment.
Once you get the amounts suitable for you, don’t make any significant adjustments just before a big event. Make changes and adjustments during the training phases if needed.
3 Best Bites to Eat During Endurance Training
You consume a lot of energy when you are building up your endurance. Your body energy stores need replenishing after and even during exercises. Best ways to do so is with food. Food helps your body quickly supply its energy stores so you can resume training.
Look for these qualities:
First, you need food that gets digested easily. You don’t want to eat food that can cause digestive issues.
So, this is why light snacks like protein bars and fruit are so good. They are easy to digest and light enough to not make you feel bloated.
Second, you need food with carbohydrates to keep your energy levels up, which allows you to continue training.
With those 2 things in mind, here are some tasty snacks for you to try:
1. Bananas
Bananas are an excellent snack because they are delicious, easy to eat, easy to digest, and rich in carbs.
Bananas are great to have when completing endurance exercise. The high carb content keeps you energized, and the sugars are not that high to be bad for you.
2. Grapes
Grapes are also great for endurance trainer. Unlike pears and apples, grapes digest quickly. They are small and easy to eat. They give energy quicker compared to fruits slow to digest.
3. Energy bars
Energy bars are easy to digest, and they give you lots of energy. They are great snacks to have when doing endurance training. Anyone can find an energy bar that appeals to them as they come in so many flavors.
Conclusion
A good quality pre-event meal is vital for optimal performance during a race. But proper nutrition shouldn’t just begin a few days before the event. Maintaining an excellent general diet always is crucial for reaching optimal performance.
