When you are an athlete or simply enjoy sports, you need to support your performance by eating the right foods. Not only can these help you to achieve the times that you have been striving toward, but they can help to keep your energy levels and stamina high and prevent injury through tiredness and a lack of precision. Here are some of the best foods that you should be cooking with as a sportsperson.
1. Salmon Skin
Fish, especially oily options like salmon, should be a staple of every athlete’s diet as they are high in omega 3 and proteins, which are paramount for muscle growth. However, to get the most out of your salmon, not only can you eat salmon skin, but it is the best part of the fish for athletes to use, as here is where the highest concentrations of omega 3 can be found. This can help to reduce inflammation and prevent any injuries that you might sustain in training, including soreness after an intense workout.
2. Beans
Beans should also be part of every meal that you cook as they are chock full of proteins and slow-releasing carbohydrates that can help you to power through even the longest sporting sessions. You should use beans in both your pre and post-workout snacks, simply adding a few to meals such as curries, chillis, and burritos for a tasty yet filling meal that can prepare you for the field.
3. Eggs
Although you might think of eggs as simply an ingredient of other dishes, learning to cook with eggs is important as an athlete. Eggs are a great natural source of protein, and you should make sure that you consume the yolk as well as the white for the greatest benefits for your health and your performance. Eggs are also filled with vitamin Bs and choline, which acts like a B vitamin and which can help you to stave off tiredness for longer. Eggs are also a great option for meals as there are endless ways to prepare them, from scrambling them to poaching them.
4. Broccoli and Sprouts
No athletic diet is complete without some greens, and broccoli and other crunchy vegetables should make the top of your list. This is because broccoli is filled with vitamin B and K, as well as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and folic acid. These ingredients can help to strengthen your bones, can prevent you from being affected so much by your allergies while playing sports, and can help reduce your cholesterol.
5. Nuts
Nuts are easy to add to every meal as a topping, as this is why they are a favorite for use in everything from yogurts to salads. Nuts can help to repair any tissue that has been damaged in exercise and so help to boost your recovery after exercise, as well as support your immune system and prevent you from coming down with an illness that can stop you from being able to train.
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