As the Olympic Games are in full swing, athletes from all over the world are sweating and pursuing excellence on the field with full enthusiasm and extraordinary strength. Behind them, in addition to hard training day after day, there is an important supporting factor - sports nutrition. These nutrition products not only provide athletes with necessary energy and nutritional supplements, but also have a series of functional ingredients to help them perform at their best in the competition. This article will give a detailed overview of sports nutrition products and their functional ingredients, and take you to understand the "energy source" behind athletes.
Importance of sports nutrition products
In sports competitions, athletes' physical fitness and nutritional intake are important factors in determining competition results. As a professional and scientific way of nutritional supplementation, sports nutrition products play an irreplaceable role in athletes' preparation and competition. Sports nutrition products can not only provide athletes with necessary energy and nutrients, but also help them restore physical strength and improve sports performance.
Types and functions of sports nutrition products
1. Energy supplement nutrition products
Energy supplement nutrition products mainly provide athletes with sufficient energy to meet their energy needs in high-intensity and long-term exercise. This type of product mainly includes high-carbohydrate, high-protein foods and drinks, such as sports drinks, energy bars, etc. They can quickly provide energy to athletes and help them maintain their physical strength.
2. Vitamin and mineral supplements
Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for the normal functioning of the human body. Athletes can meet their needs for various nutrients during training and competition by consuming vitamin and mineral supplements. These nutrients help improve athletes' immunity, promote muscle recovery, and prevent sports anemia.
3. Protein supplements
Protein is an important raw material for muscle synthesis and repair. Athletes can speed up muscle recovery, improve muscle strength and endurance by consuming high-quality protein supplements. This type of product includes whey protein powder, casein powder, etc.
What food do athletes eat at the Paris Olympics?
The catering arrangements for the 2024 Paris Olympics focus on the combination of environmental protection concepts and French cuisine. A total of 13 million meals are expected to be provided, 80% of the agricultural products used will come from France, and 60% of the food will be vegetarian, with the goal of reducing the carbon footprint and reducing the carbon footprint of each meal by half on average.
The main cafeteria in the Olympic Village has nearly 3,200 seats, provides tens of thousands of meals every day, and has six different dining areas. Currently, only the world cuisine, halal and Asian dining areas are open, and they are open 24 hours a day. The staple foods include rice, pasta, pizza, etc., and the meat mainly includes haddock, salmon, turkey and lamb. The athlete restaurant in the Olympic Village does not provide French fries, but provides a rich lentil dish. This is because the temporary kitchen of the Olympic restaurant does not allow the use of fryers, which poses a fire hazard.
The Olympic restaurant will be equipped with more than 500 different dishes, including 120 main dishes, 40 dishes are provided every day, and the menu will be rotated in a few weeks. One-third of them are vegetarian. In different food areas, athletes can also taste various specialties. For example, in the French-themed food area, they can taste brandy cod or Burgundy wine (non-alcoholic version); in the Asian food area, there are minced pork with Thai basil or cauliflower with turmeric, etc.; in the African and Caribbean food area, there are classic North African eggs (hakchouka), fried shrimps, and lamb with mint and vegetable moussaka.
In addition, the restaurant will mark the specific nutritional indicators (calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, etc.), allergens and other necessary information (such as vegetarian, gluten-free) of each dish. The Olympic Village also has a bakery that provides fresh baguettes, croissants and other classic French desserts. There is also a dining area full of French atmosphere, where five French chefs will provide athletes with authentic French meals, but only 600 seats are provided every day.
In order to spread French cuisine and provide athletes around the world with diverse and creative delicious food, the Paris Olympic Organizing Committee invited several Michelin-starred chefs to serve as food consultants for the Olympic Village restaurant, including Alexandre Mazzia (good at mashing chickpeas and verbena, with beets, peas and seafood), Akramé Benalal (specialty is red and white quinoa cereal, with Parmesan cheese, a little mascarpone cheese and some smoked yogurt), Amandine Chainot (will make "chicken and rich langoustine soup" for athletes, with French-style sauce), etc.
However, according to the Global Times, some British athletes complained that the food provided at the Paris Olympics was small in quantity and poorly made, and even ate raw meat. The chairman of the British Olympic Committee said that he had received a lot of complaints from British athletes, and the UK had to urgently dispatch chefs from the country to buy fresh ingredients in the market to ensure that British athletes were well fed and well fed.
For Chinese athletes, there is also a dedicated "China House" to ensure food. The meals at the "China House" this time are mainly Sichuan cuisine, combined with local seasonal ingredients in France, showing the world the taste of Sichuan and China. The dishes include traditional Sichuan dishes such as chicken tofu and spicy chicken, as well as innovative dishes combined with local ingredients, such as pan-fried silver cod with mushrooms and roasted pepper beef short ribs. At the same time, the "China House" also prepared afternoon tea and tableware with Chinese characteristics to create a strong Chinese cultural atmosphere.
Functional ingredients in sports nutrition products
In addition to providing basic energy and nutrients, modern sports nutrition products also contain many functional ingredients. These ingredients have special physiological functions and can help athletes improve their performance, restore physical strength and prevent sports injuries.
1. Antioxidants
Antioxidants can help remove free radicals in the body and reduce the damage of oxidative stress to the body. During exercise, antioxidants can help athletes delay muscle fatigue and promote physical recovery. Common antioxidant ingredients include vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, etc.
2. Amino acids and peptides
Amino acids and peptides are the basic building blocks of protein and have the function of promoting muscle synthesis and repair. In addition, some specific amino acids and peptides can also improve athletic performance and relieve fatigue. Leucine, glutamine, etc. are widely used in sports nutrition products.
3. Fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins
Fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins are important for maintaining the physical health and athletic performance of athletes. They not only provide energy for athletes, but also have functions such as regulating the immune system and promoting muscle recovery. Common fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins include EPA and DHA in fish oil, vitamin A, D, etc.
How to use sports nutrition products reasonably?
1. Choose the right sports nutrition products according to personal needs
Everyone's physical condition, exercise volume and training plan are different, so it is very important to choose the right sports nutrition products for themselves. It is recommended that athletes choose the right sports nutrition products under the guidance of professional coaches or nutritionists.
2. Pay attention to supplementing comprehensive nutrition with other diets
Although sports nutrition products can provide certain energy and nutrients, they cannot completely replace other diets. Therefore, athletes also need to pay attention to matching with other foods to ensure comprehensive nutritional supplements.
3. Control intake and avoid excessive intake
Any nutrient may have adverse effects on the body. Therefore, when using sports nutrition products, you should pay attention to controlling the intake and follow the product instructions and doctor's advice.
As the Olympics progress, we see the sweat and efforts of athletes working hard for their dreams. Behind them, there is an indispensable force - sports nutrition products. These products not only provide the necessary energy and nutritional support, but also contain many functional ingredients to help athletes perform at their best on the field.
This article was independently created and published by Herbfields.net.