Great nutrition is one of the building blocks that make a great athlete. Performance, practice and conditioning aside, it comes down to simply what you are putting in your body that truly affects your abilities and endurance as an athlete. Super foods are all the rage nowadays, and for good reason. There is a big list of foods that are considered “super” that are filled with nutrients to fuel your athletic performance and increase your endurance. Here is just a small list of different super foods that will increase your athletic abilities.
OATMEAL
Good old-fashioned oatmeal is a fantastic super food for endurance. Oatmeal is made of complex carbohydrates and filled with rich soluble fiber. The protein and low-glycemic-index of oatmeal keeps your body fueled for long amounts of time. It is the perfect food for endurance athletes and boasts other health benefits like lowering cholesterol. Cook up those oats in the morning before a big game, and feel the power!
KALE
This leafy green has been the craze for a while now and seems to be mixed into every recipe at every fancy restaurant. People hear “kale” and think “healthy,” and they would be right. Kale is a fantastic super food for endurance athletes. Packed with essentials like calcium and iron, kale is also rich in antioxidants and vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin B6. The building blocks of kale help protect your cells and can keep your cholesterol in check as well.
BANANAS
These yellow monkey favorites sometimes get a bad reputation in the nutrition world, especially for those extreme low-carb gurus out there. But the sugar content in bananas helps to replace lost electrolytes after a hard workout and their high potassium and vitamin content are excellent as an anti-inflammatory. Embrace this yellow super food as your go-to sports snack.
SWEET POTATOES
Skip those white potatoes and opt for their orange-colored counterpart. Sweet potatoes are a great super food for endurance athletes, containing antioxidants that remove free radicals as well as essential vitamins and minerals for healthy muscle function. The copper and manganese found in sweet potatoes are great for athletes, as they replace minerals lost from stressing the muscles.
CHIA SEEDS
Oh, the chia seed. Don’t let its size fool you. This little round seed is packed with super powers to increase your endurance. Boasting over three times the amount of antioxidants than other super foods like blueberries, these seeds are the best. They absorb water as well, helping to keep your body hydrated. Have you tried mixing them with milk and letting them sit overnight? They expand to over twice their normal size and gain a gel-like consistency. This fascinating ability of chia seeds is one of the main reasons they are an awesome super food for athletes.
RAISINS
Great for a quick burst of energy, raisins are packed with natural sugars to fuel your workout or give you power for the big game. The fructose in raisins breaks down quickly and easily when digested, helping all that energy into your bloodstream. These little sun-dried goodies are packed with nutrients and vitamins as well to replenish your tired muscles.
This is just a small list of different super foods that can help to boost your athletic endurance. There are plenty of nutrient-rich, energy-filled foods out there that will help fuel your fire. Seek out healthy foods and snacks to keep you going through your workouts and motivated in your sport, and you will have the energy and endurance needed to achieve your goals.
Share this Story
