In sports, it is increasingly confirmed that in order to achieve the desired results in competition, continuous and rigorous training alone is not enough. It is also essential to maintain a balanced diet for athletes to maximize health and individual performance. A few basic principles for creating a tailor-made diet.
Daily nutrition must provide the essential substances to support all physiological functions. For an athlete, it is crucial to achieve physical form aimed at performance or simply to maintain good health. A correct diet, with an adequate intake of calories, the right amount of proteins, and a good coverage of vitamins and antioxidants, enables the development of muscle mass over time and supports the psychophysical stress caused by training. Furthermore, there is no generic dietary program that works for everyone. Nutrition must be tailored to the individual athlete’s characteristics and needs in terms of caloric consumption and structural support. In general, however, an athlete has greater needs compared to a sedentary person, both in terms of calories, which are proportional to the type and intensity of the sport practiced, and non-energy elements like vitamins and minerals. The variety of the diet is a key principle, and there are no foods that must be consumed every day. The support for physical activity comes from a healthy and balanced diet that must be followed daily throughout the year, not just the week or day before a competition.
