When it comes to football, footwork and agility aren’t everything. The core element of a good player is fitness. And central to a healthy and fit physique for professional football players is proper nutrition. What players need to understand is there is no “one diet fits all” scene here. Since each and every body has its own different needs, the perfect nutritional diet plan may vary from player to player. The ground rules are the same for everyone, however. There are Must-Haves and Inconsequential.
It’s not just football players either. Every human body needs a balanced diet and a desirable amount of exercise to stay in good shape. Lying on your bed and playing slot games in online casinos or casino sister sites may be satisfying, but it doesn’t necessarily mean its good for your health.
At the core of a perfect diet plan, there are some things that form the basis of a good nutrition plan:
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Fats
- Water
Each of these are necessary when it comes to having proper nutrition, especially for football players. Here is each one explained:
Carbohydrates as fuel
Carbohydrates are essential macro-nutrients, which provide the human body with four calories per single gram. They’re also one of the most common nutrients found naturally. We consume a lot of carbohydrates every day in the form of sugar, bread, beans, milk, popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, soft drinks and more. Carbohydrates are an immediate source of energy, which is handy for football players. This energy is usually stored as glucose in the body; these carbs broken down during excess workouts such as playing football games to provide excess energy.
There are different kinds of carbohydrates, however. Football players should go for those that not only provide energy, but the necessary vitamins and minerals as well – such as:
- Whole grains
- Vegetables
- Dairy products
- Citrus fruits
- Lentils, peas, and beans
Proteins
The most essential nutrient of all is perhaps protein. It is solely responsible for building, repairing and modifying your muscles. When the human body goes through an excessive workout like hitting the gym or playing an intense football game, muscle fibres can break. To repair these fibres, proteins are there to do that. When proteins repair these muscles, however, the fibres get stronger and bigger. And this can be seen as growth in the visible muscles like Biceps, Triceps, Shoulder, Legs and more.
Protein is essential for professional players. While it can be consumed raw in the form of protein shakes and powders, various foods are protein-rich too – such as:
- Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese.
- Seeds and nuts.
- Beans and legumes (such as lentils and chickpeas)
- Soy products like tofu
Fats
Fats are often considered harmful when it comes to exercising or having a good body physique. But that is not necessarily the case. Football players especially need fats, but only the good kind. And, yes, there are good and bad kinds of fats.
Monounsaturated Fats and Fatty acids are essential for athletic body growth. But full-fat dairies and oils can have drastically harmful effects if consumed over the limit. If you’re in it to be a good football player, you should focus more on monounsaturated and fatty acids including:
- Olive Oil
- Nuts
- Avocados
- Canola oil
- Salmon
- Tuna
Water
People often tend to ignore their hydration need. Often, they end up being dehydrated most of the time. Being hydrated is key to achieving a good and healthy body. Dehydration can also lead to low blood pressure, weakness, dizziness and increased risk of falls. Dehydration is very serious. So, players should keep their body hydrated and drink a good amount of water during pre-game seasons, as well as practice and training sessions.
