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Beetroot juice improves endurance performance
©Dani Vincek Shutterstock

Beetroot juice improves endurance performance

Details
Published: 16 February 2025

Consuming beetroot juice, which contains a lot of nitrate, is a new trend in the world of sports over the past few years. Supplementing with dietary nitrates may improve performance because it enhances muscle efficiency and oxygen supply to the muscles. But it's also a bit controversial because the consumption of nitrate was always associated with possible health risks.

Last Updated: 20 February 2025
Hits: 174
Nutritional strategies to optimise your immune system
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Nutritional strategies to optimise your immune system

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Published: 26 January 2025

Athletes engaged in heavy training programmes, or in the final preparation for competition, appear more susceptible to infection than the general population. This increased susceptibility to infection arises due to exercise- or training-induced suppression of the immune system. Nutritional practices can help to maintain or improve immune function and limit the risk of illness compromising training and competitive performance.

Last Updated: 16 February 2025
Hits: 589
Healthy nutrition for swimmers
©Suzanne Tucker Shutterstock

Healthy nutrition for swimmers

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Published: 24 January 2025

Compared to most other athletes, competitive swimmers typically have more training sessions per week and often begin swimming at a younger age. A balanced diet is not only essential for optimising performance but also for enhancing recovery between training sessions. For young swimmers, it is equally important to consume adequate energy for growth and development. Therefore, good nutrition should be more than just a sports bar and sports drink during a competition.

Last Updated: 16 February 2025
Hits: 219
Carbohydrates are an important fuel for athletes
©travellight shutterstock

Carbohydrates are an important fuel for athletes

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Published: 24 January 2025

Nowadays, you read and hear everywhere that low-carbohydrate diets are the best for losing weight, maintaining a healthy diet, and even improving sports performance. However, there is no scientific evidence for these claims. On the other hand, there is lots of scientific evidence that a high-carbohydrate diet is crucial for good sport performance, and low glycogen levels can even impair your sports performance. When exercise intensity increases, carbohydrates are the main fuel for athletes.

Last Updated: 16 February 2025
Hits: 202

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Popular

Can you train for a full triathlon in a year?

Can you train for a full triathlon in a year?
©Shutterstock dotshock

A full triathlon (Ironman) is seen by many as the ultimate challenge. Three sports: 3.8km swimming, 180km cycling, and a marathon. How far in advance should you start training to complete your ultimate challenge, and how many hours per week should you train? For most athletes, it should be possible to train for a full triathlon within a year. Of course, it becomes easier if you already have experience in one of the sports and are reasonably fit. In this article, I explain what is needed to complete a full triathlon.

Read more

Beetroot juice improves endurance performance

Beetroot juice improves endurance performance
©Dani Vincek Shutterstock

Consuming beetroot juice, which contains a lot of nitrate, is a new trend in the world of sports over the past few years. Supplementing with dietary nitrates may improve performance because it enhances muscle efficiency and oxygen supply to the muscles. But it's also a bit controversial because the consumption of nitrate was always associated with possible health risks.

Read more

Fat intake for endurance athletes

Fat Intake for Endurance Athletes
©Yulia Furman Shutterstock

Many athletes believe that fat intake is bad for them, as it is often associated with weight gain and decreased sports performance. However, fats play a crucial role in an athlete's diet. Several processes in your body depend on fats, and particularly in endurance sports, where intensity is lower, they contribute to optimising performance. The perception of fats among athletes is changing; this article explains what endurance athletes need to know about fats.

Read more

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