Sports Nutrition
It is highly important that athletes have a healthy eating diet in order to maintain their performance. In netball the nutrition diet is kinder different from the other sporting discipline. According to the (Sports Dietitian Australia), a general healthy eating pattern helps to support the needs of fit, energetic, and lean netball player. Nutrition should be based around lean proteins for muscle repair and recovery, carbohydrate appropriately timed for fuel. In addition, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains provide important vitamins and minerals, along with some healthy fats. Individual nutrition requirements will be determined by training load, specific athlete needs, training goals, body composition goals, health, and adjustment for growth in younger athletes. Timing of food is key to success. Adjusting portions and spacing meals and snacks throughout the day can improve nutrient absorption and help with meeting fueling and recovery nutrition goals. Netball is a fast moving game that requires high-intensity running, fast decision-making and skillful ball handling and it is important to stay hydrated. To stay hydrated, players should drink fluids should before, during and after training and matches. However, body fluid needs will depend on individual fluid losses, which vary depending on individual sweat rate. In order for athletes to perform they need to eat maybe an hour or two before game or training. This meal should contain some carbohydrate for fuel as well as some fluids for hydration. A small amount of protein in the pre-game meal is also useful, as it can help to prevent hunger during the game. They could have like a ham sandwich or maybe a chicken salad.
After a game, it is highly important that athletes recover properly. Recovery meals and snacks should therefore contain carbohydrate (fuel), some protein (for muscle repair and development) and plenty of fluids and electrolytes to replace sweat losses. A recovery meal or snack should be consumed soon after exercise period, remembering that recovery nutrition extends well beyond the initial hours post-game, particularly when the next training session or game is the next day. Fluids (mainly water) should also be consumed, based on estimated losses.
Is it important to you that nutrition plays an important role when playing a sport, or doing physical activities?
Netball Sports HEALTH 