How should an athletes diet differ from a non-athletes?
An athlete’s diet should differ from a non-athlete’s in one major way–athletes need fuel for training and competition, as well as daily living,” observes Christine Rosenbloom, Ph.D., R.D., associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University, where she also works with the intercollegiate athletes. “Food is fuel for an athlete, but most athletes overlook the fuel they put in their tanks.” Protein, fat, and carbohydrates are your body’s fuel (energy). Not all foods provide the same fuel mixture. Just as race cars need a gasoline with a high octane rating, athletes need food with a high carbohydrate rating. “I tell my athletes that they have the bodies of expensive race cars but they often run them on an empty tank or cheap gas,” comments Rosenbloom. Calories A teenage athlete (especially someone who is still growing), will have higher calorie needs than at any other time in his or her life. Calorie needs also depend on the type of sport you play and your training program. An ave
