| As a basketball player, I always wondered how vital of | | | | Hydration |
| a role food and nutrition had in my playing ability. During | | | | When I was growing up Gatorade wasn't nearly as |
| a camp one summer there was a nutrition specialist | | | | popular as it is today. If you got Gatorade you were |
| there and I asked him this question, "does it really | | | | considered lucky. Today we have so many choices of |
| matter what we eat before a game?" All I can say is | | | | products to keep us hydrated it is amazing. From |
| that he laughed for a bit and then compared our | | | | Propel to energy drinks to regular water. I don't and |
| bodies to cars and the fuel that we put into them. If | | | | won't ever recommend an energy drink as something |
| we put junk in our cars they don't drive well and the | | | | to take immediately before a sporting event. I don't |
| same is true of our bodies. I took what he said very | | | | think it is healthy and I don't think we have enough |
| seriously and will never forget the recommendations | | | | study materials to prove if it is safe or not. The |
| he gave us. This article will summarize his advice and | | | | caffeine and sugars that are typically in those drinks |
| will serve as a guide for basketball players looking to | | | | creates a quick fix but causes a lag as the game |
| improve their playing ability simply by being smart about | | | | goes on. For simple hydration water is generally the |
| what they eat and drink. | | | | safest bet. It is recommended that a player should |
| Carbohydrates | | | | drink over a gallon of water a day. That's a lot of |
| You hear a lot of negative things about carbohydrates | | | | water, but if you compare it to the amount of sweat |
| these days but basketball players need to know that | | | | that you are producing it really isn't that much. The |
| carbohydrates serve an important purpose - creating | | | | more water you drink the more energy you will have |
| energy. Because of this, they should be regular part of | | | | and the better you will feel. One of the worst things |
| your diet but shouldn't be eaten excessively. While | | | | you can do as an athlete is not drink enough. |
| breads are full of carbohydrates, he recommended | | | | Final Thoughts |
| wheat breads and not in high amounts. They are a | | | | Any product that is processed that is white is caused |
| heavier food and tend to sit in your stomach longer | | | | because of sugars. Yes, that includes white bread. |
| than other foods. Light pastas were mentioned with | | | | 100% whole wheat bread aids in digestion better and |
| spaghetti being one of the simplest foods to break | | | | helps to process the other foods. Sugars, if unused, |
| down and produce energy. The red sauce, with | | | | simply turn to fat and that is bad in any sense of the |
| tomatoes and other vegetables, was also mentioned | | | | word. People ask me about steaks and such. Steaks |
| as a positive to have as a staple of your diet as well | | | | are tricky because they are generally very high in |
| as a pregame meal. | | | | protein but can also be very high in fats. Certain cuts |
| Protein | | | | of steak obviously have more fats than others. I |
| No player who wants to get stronger or healthier can | | | | counsel people to eat them in moderation. Steak is one |
| do it without the aid of protein. Specifically mentioned | | | | of my favorite foods and while I was playing I would |
| were lean proteins like turkey or boneless skinless | | | | typically lose weight during the season. A steak every |
| turkey breasts. I was very interested to learn that fish | | | | now and then helped me maintain my weight and my |
| can provide probably the least fat and best protein | | | | strength and I feel it was very necessary for me. |
| available. My favorite fish, salmon, wasn't on the list of | | | | Mainly, watch out for processed foods and eat foods |
| the least fatty fish available and I was surprised about | | | | that are equally balanced throughout. Don't just eat |
| that. Halibut, tuna and cod are all great protein foods | | | | only wheat bread. Don't just eat turkey meat 10 times |
| that have minimal fats. One of my favorite meals | | | | a day. Be smart and be reasonable. Remember that |
| became spaghetti with red sauce and grilled chicken | | | | what you put into your body plays a large role in how |
| breast. It provided the protein and necessary | | | | you play. If you need an edge it could very well come |
| carbohydrates to have enough energy to compete at | | | | down to diet and that may make all the difference. |
| the level I needed to compete at. | | | | |