August 18th, 2010 by admin

Training doesn’t only take place on the field. All the workouts in the world won’t help you if you’re sucking down cheeseburgers and milkshakes in your off-hours. Instead, a champion soccer player’s diet should be carefully calibrated to bring out his or her best.Don’t think that just because you’re burning thousands of calories on the field, that you should be stocking up on fats in your diet. Fats aren’t an efficient source of energy. Instead, focus on carbohydrates, the macronutrients whose primary job is providing fuel to the body. There are a number of ways to get carbohydrates, whether through soluble and insoluble fibers or sugar. Fruits, corn, beans, and wheat products should all be a regular part of your diet.Proteins are also important, as they provide the means for your body to regenerate muscles and tissue. However, eating too much protein can put stress on your kidneys and leech calcium from your bones as it is absorbed. Limit proteins to 10 of your caloric intake, and even less right before a game. Traditional providers of protein are eggs, meat, and nuts.In addition to these “macronutrients”, it’s also important to get a good intake of “micronutrients”otherwise known as vitamins and minerals. Obviously different vitamins and minerals do different things, and some people are naturally deficient in certain (rare) cases. Make sure to supplement your diet with extra fruits or nutritional supplements if necessary. Some of the most important minerals to keep an eye out for are: boron, which regulates metabolism and keeps bones strong; chloride, which maintains electrolytes in fluids; iodine, to regulate growth and metabolism; and iron, which produces hemoglobin and transports oxygen through the bodies. Each micronutrient is found in different products, but a steady diet of fruits and vegetables will provide a good portion of them. Ask a nutritionist if you have more specific questions regarding how to eat like a champion.