Sports Nutrition: Facts, Fads & Fallacies

This article provides endurance athletes with current thinking on sports performance and nutrition.

With so much conflicting information out there, sports nutritionist Nancy Clark offers some science-based nutrition facts.

“Over the years I’ve seen far too many athletes look to fad ‘diets’ whose promoters offer the world but little factual evidence of improved performance for elite and/or age-group athletes. Some are even detrimental to both performance and long-term health. As a result, I have one rule, if there’s the word “diet” used then be cautious as healthy sports orientated eating and hydration habits should be part of your lifestyle not a ‘diet’.” Peter Richards of TNBcoaching.com.

Edited and added to by TNBcoaching.com from an original article by Nancy Clark for Triathlete Magazine, March 19th, 2020

Some science-based answers to a few popular sports nutrition questions athletes have about the best way to eat for optimal health and sports performance.

In a 2016 study, less than 46% of study participants (66% of Ironman distance athletes) consumed recommended intake of carbohydrates, whilst recommended protein intake fared significantly better with 84% and 87% respectively. There was no statistical difference across multisport groups based on gender. “Many non-elite multisport endurance athletes do not meet sports nutrition recommendations for carbohydrates” published March 2016, Laval University, Quebec, Canada,

CARBOHYDRATES:

We have all heard trendy comments about carbs: They’re a waste of calories, sugar is evil. Fact? No…

Are carbs a waste of calories, with little nutritional value?

The answer depends on your definition of “carbs.” Many runners define carbs as sugar-filled baked goods and foods made with refined white flour, such as pasta, bagels, bread. Carbohydrates include all types of sugars and starches. Carbs are in fruit, vegetables, beans (pinto, lima, garbanzo, etc.), grains (wheat, rice, barley, corn), and milk. These “quality carbs” add important nutrients to a sports diet.

Should endurance athletes cut out sugar?

Sure, if that means cutting out EXCESS sugar. But if you plan is to cut out all sugar, technically speaking, you would need to stop eating any form of carbohydrate (fruit, veggies, grains, milk products, etc.), given those foods end up as sugar (glucose, fructose and lactose) in your body. That sugar fuels your muscles and brain. You’ll also need to cut out performance-enhancing sport drinks and gels.

Better yet, judge a food based on all the nutrients that accompany the sugar, more so than just the sugar content. Some sugary foods are nutrient-rich. The natural and added sugar in chocolate milk, in combination with the milk’s protein, make chocolate milk an excellent recovery food for endurance athletes. (The sugar refuels the muscles; the protein builds and repairs the muscles.)

If your goal is to cut out added sugar, you might want to think moderation, rather than all or nothing. US Dietary Guidelines say 10 per cent of calories can come from added sugar. Eating a small amount of dark chocolate or a small sweet a day will not ruin your health forever.

Runners who report a desire to cut out sugar commonly have a love-hate relationship with (too much) sugar. While they may believe sugar is addictive, a standard reason for overdosing on sugar relates to hunger. The body of a hungry runner screams for quick energy: i.e. sugar. One way to curb sugar-cravings is to eat a satisfying protein-rich breakfast (with eggs, cottage cheese, or nut butter). By curbing hunger, you’ll enhance your chances of being able to choose quality carbs later in the day. Yes, eating an appropriate breakfast can (and does) impact and improve the rest of your day and evening food choices. Give it a try.

PROTEIN:

Many of today’s athletes believe protein should dominate a sports diet. True? Not quite.

What percent of my calories should come from protein?

Dietary guidelines recommend 10 to 15 percent of daily calories should come from protein. In truth, athletes should base their protein needs on body weight, not percent of calories. The target for most athletes is about 1.0 grams to 1.5 grams of protein per Kg of body weight (e.g. for 70 kg athlete that equals 70 to 105 grams) per day. Athletes who restrict calories or are just starting a weight-lifting program might need a bit more protein—but most hungry athletes consume that much—plus more—within the context of daily food choices.

Can I get enough protein without protein shakes, bars and powders? Yes!

I rarely meet athletes who consume too little protein. Those who might benefit from a supplement include runners with anorexia (who consume too little of most nutrients) and dieting vegetarian runners who fail to consume adequate plant protein within their restricted calorie budget. That is, for 125 calories, you can consume 25 grams of protein from a can of tuna, but less than 4 g protein from the dollop (0.25 cup) of hummus on a salad.

Can vegan athletes perform as well as meat-eaters?

For certain, if they consume adequate protein, iron, calcium and B-12, among other nutrients. Not hard to do if the vegan is eating responsibly (i.e., not living on “vegan” Coke & potato chips). They might even perform better when they shift from a meat-based to plant-based diet. Plant proteins (such as beans, lentils, and hummus) offer both protein (to build and repair muscles) and carbohydrate (to fuel muscles).

To optimally fuel muscles, runners who train about an hour a day need about 5 to 7 grams carb/Kg of body weight, depending on the intensity of the workout. For a 70 kg runner, this comes to about 350 to 490 grams of carb a day (1,360 to 2,100 calories from carb). To hit that goal, starchy beans and grains should be the foundation of each meal and snack. Vegan runners can easily hit that target, while many meat-focused or carb-avoidant runners end up needlessly fatigued when meat/fish/chicken and salads displace starches and grains. No wonder many runners report performing better when they switch to a vegan diet!

FAT: While fat has been shunned for years, it is now popular or at least ‘better’ fats are. Here’s what athletes want to know about dietary fat.

To lose undesired body fat, should I train my body to burn more fat?

Don’t bother! Burning fat differs from losing body fat. You might burn 800 calories doing two hours of a fat-burning long run, and then can easily replace it all by devouring a big meal. No fat loss there!

A wiser plan is to lose fat when you are sleeping (not when exercising), by eating less at dinner to create a calorie deficit for the day. That way, you can surround your workouts with fuel, and optimize your ability to train well. Weight is more of a calorie-game (i.e. total fuel in vs fuel burnt) than a fat-burning game.

What about the high-fat keto diet for losing weight?

Keto advocates often rave they can lose weight without feeling hunger. True, a high fat diet is very satiating. But what happens after the diet? I’ve heard stories of keto dieters succumbing to carb-binges and rapid weight regain. Recent research studies have highlighted a long-term side effect, in keto dieters, of higher incidence of osteoporosis. My recommendation: Embark only on a food plan you want to and can maintain for the rest of your life. Meeting with a registered sports dietitian can help you learn effective weight management skills.

What about a keto diet for endurance athletes?

Some ultra-runners and ultra-athletes embrace a keto diet.  By burning fat for fuel, they can eat less during long events and experience less intestinal distress. More research is needed on keto-athletes who have fat-adapted for several months (many studies are for less than one month): Can they perform better than carb-eaters? Current research suggests keto athletes might perform as well as carb eaters—but not better than. That’s a lot of dietary restriction for questionable performance benefits. That said, each athlete is an experiment of one and no one ‘diet’ suits everyone.

Sports Nutritionist Nancy Clark, MS, RD counsels both casual and competitive athletes at her private practice in the Boston, USA. Her best-selling Sports Nutrition Guidebook answers most nutrition questions and can help you eat to win. Visit www.NancyClarkRD.com for more information.