Nutrition for Swimmers
Why is nutrition important for swimmers?
A swimmer that is training heavily (more than two hours a day) should eat four to seven meals (3 major + 4 small) a day.
The amount of endurance it takes to be a good swimmer is why a swimmer's nutrition is so crucial to their strength and speed in the water.
It takes a good three hours for your body to actually digest the food you’re eating, particularly all major meals, so if the swimmer has eaten an hour before he/she hits the pool, his body is trying to digest and it can’t deliver the blood flow to the muscles, so he ends up getting a stitch.
Overall calories requirement of swimmers is always more than normal human being and it depends on multiple factors like training hours, height, weight and gender.
If their nutrition needs are not getting full-filled through food and its vital for them to nourish through supplements for growth, health and good condition.
Recommended foods pre/during/post workout:
Pre-workout: Make sure that you are fully hydrated and you had good carbohydrates in breakfast/lunch.
Examples: Whole wheat bread, Pasta, Roti, Lentils, Peas, Apple, Pears, Orange, Kiwi, Beet root + Carrot juice, Sweet potato, Low fat milk/curd/yoghurt, Dried apricots/figs/prunes, raisins, roasted peanuts.
During workout: Make sure that you are carrying enough water and isotonic sports drinks.
Examples: Sports drink, Lemon water, Glucon D, Electral
Post-workout: Make sure you are taking right amount of snack for recovery within 30 minutes post-workout.
Examples: Coconut water + egg/chicken/paneer sandwich OR Milk shake + peanut butter sandwich OR chocolate milk shake + 1 bowl sprouts.
Note: Guidelines given above are very generic guidelines and might vary from athlete to athlete.
In case of any related query or to book an appointment with Dt. Silky Mahajan please send us a mail at info@foodsandnutrition.in or call on 080 6741 7780 (Dial Extension: 778).
