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A basketball player should eat healthy not just for the game but for his overall health. But since the sport burns a lot of energy, players should eat more foods that contain the right nutrients that will give him the energy to sustain his fuel requirement – but still balanced to attain optimum use.
There are 2 basic food groups that a basketball player should eat: protein and carbohydrates.
Proteins – are the building blocks of the body which is responsible for paving the increase of strength and muscle mass through exercise. Protein is found in fish, eggs, dairy products, milk, and meat. There are also kinds of vegetables that are rich in protein. These are leguminous plants or plants which grow on the vine or climbing pea or bean such as peanuts, soya, and asparagus. Protein should supply 10 percent of our energy needs.
Carbohydrates – are essential for the functioning of our brain. Carbohydrates are stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen. They are often found in foods such as rice, bread, potatoes, pasta, fruits, honey, jam, and pulses. Carbohydrates should supply 50 percent of our energy needs however, since a basketball player requires more fuel to keep him in the game, some sports nutritionists require players to have 70 percent carbo diet.
As always, fat is needed but should be minimized.
Before the game…
Eat at least 1 hour before the game. This gives the body ample time to digest the food before using it during the game. It is suggested that the player should eat lots of carbohydrates to store energy.
During the game…
Players aren’t often seen eating during the game but most people don’t know about this: eating a bananna during the game helps players to replenish lost energy quickly. Regularly drinking fluid during the game helps the player to bring back the water he has lost from the game.
After the game…
After the game, the player should eat protein, then carbohydrates. This is because protein helps facilitates carbohydrate to replenish the storage chemical of the cell of the body called glycogen. Glycogen stores glucose, an important component in metabolism. Without these two, the body won’t regain the energy that is lost from the previous game and will contribute to mental and physical fatigue.
Take note that protein and carbohydrates aren’t the only requirements of a player. He should also exercise to help keep his body healthy and fit.
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