Football is a sport that requires a mix of skill, strength and endurance. Whilst the first of these factors is down to the individual’s own ability, the other two can be hugely influenced by nutrition. Whilst most football players will have heard of protein shakes and energy drinks, many are not aware of the benefits of consuming a number of other different dietary supplements.
Supplements for Endurance
One of the most popular sports products around is creatine which is one of the most widely studied supplements and very cost-effective. The most common form of creatine is creatine monohydrate which has been shown to increase physical performance in short intense bursts.
It is also important to ensure an adequate intake of carbohydrates in order to perform at an optimal level. With this in mind products such as maltodextrin or oats provide a suitable clean carbohydrate source in order to keep your body adequately fuelled.
Supplements for Strength
If you were to choose just one supplement for conditioning for football, the most obvious choice would be whey protein. The perfect whey protein shake choice after training or matches, should be an optimal 2:1 ratio of protein and carbohydrates. A product such as Recovery Protein would ensure that your body is adequately refuelled in order to help rebuild muscles that are broken down during intense physical exercise.
If you are worried about the added calories of a whey protein shake you could always look at choosing a diet whey protein which contains a number of ingredients proven to help aid the fat burning process. Another alternative is whey protein isolate which has a higher percentage of protein and cuts down on the amount of carbs and fat in the blend.
Nutrition for Football: Summary
In order to perform at your optimal level in football you need to ensure that your body is adequately fuelled both before and after training. Clean carb sources such as maltodextrin and pure fine oats will help fuel you during a training sessions whilst a whey protein shake afterwards will help to aid recovery. You could also look at a supplement like creatine monohydrate in order to boost your performance.
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