Menos Hiras believes that everything you eat has a direct effect on your body. Food can energize, reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and help you fight disease. It can also speed up your metabolism, build muscle power, and help your muscles recover from a workout. No doubt about it, the right food is essential in optimizing an athlete’s body functions and performance.
So, what types of food should you eat for power, endurance, and strength? Here is a look at the top three:
1. Strengthen your body with raw food. Eating uncooked fruits and vegetables is the best way to gain essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for your body. Raw food contains the most amount of enzymes and nutrients that fuel different body functions for maximum athletic performance. Menos Hiras states that they also help neutralize free radicals in your body to create a more alkaline environment for optimized cell function. Load up on sprouts like alfalfa, broccoli, and clover.
2. Boost endurance with antioxidant-rich food. Antioxidants benefit an athlete’s performance as well as aid in their recovery. They protect against oxidation damage to help muscles recover faster after an intense game or training. They also boost your immune system so that you don’t miss out on practice or games because of illness. Load up on high antioxidant food such as beets, artichokes, berries, and cherries.
3. Reduce inflammation with an anti-inflammatory diet. Athletes who engage in regular strenuous exercise and do not have the proper nutrition and rest may experience chronic inflammation. Menos Hiras warns that if left untreated, this may lead to severe illnesses such as certain cancers, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Food high in anti-inflammatory properties include omega-3 fatty food such as salmon and sardines, curry, ginger, turmeric and rosemary, and whole grains.
Menos Hiras concludes that everything you eat may either benefit you or make you weak. As an athlete, it is essential to consume food that only contributes to your total and physical well-being.
