As a sports nutritionist who works with professional and competitive athletes, including tennis players, I’m always on the lookout for tips and tricks that give my clients an edge. An in my 10-plus years of practice, not a week goes by that we don’t learn more about how particular foods and nutrients help the body operate like a well-oiled machine. Each one of your body’s 100 trillion cells relies solely on what you eat and drink to fuel your performance and help you recover. And while sports nutrition isn’t an exact science, there are plenty of tried and true techniques every tennis player should know.
The 20 Things You Need to Know About Nutrition
18. Bacteria Are Critical to Your Health
A recent study published in the <em>European Journal of Clinical Nutrition</em> found that a probiotic supplement, specifically Lactobacillus gasseri, helped adults with obese tendencies achieve weight-loss success. The study assigned 87 overweight people to receive a daily dose of fermented milk, with or without added priobiotics, for a 12-week period. The supplemented group had a 4.6 percent reduction in belly fat and a 1.4 percent reduction in body weight, compared to no changes among those who didn't recieve the "good" bacteria. Probiotics also fight arthritic inflammation and boost immunity—a Swedish study found that employees given Lactobacillus got sick less often and missed far fewer days of work. The best food sources are yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut and Kimchi.
More:
**1. Your Diet Impacts Your Brain Function
2. The Right Breakfast Fights Hunger All Day
3. Food Can Fight Pain
4. Don't Run on Empty
5. Sleep Matters ... A Lot
6. Omega-3s Are Beyond Essential
7. Milk Does More Than Double Duty
8. Don't Get Fooled by the Afterburn Myth
9. Organic Food is Worth the Extra Money
10. Alcohol May Weaken Muscle
11. Relying on the Sun for Vitamin D May Be a Mistake
12. Spices are a Secret Weapon
13. Chocolate is a Key Superfood
14. Buyer Beware When it Comes to Supplements
15. A Little Vitamin C Makes a Big Difference
16. Variety Trumps Quantity for Fruits & Veggies
17. Drinking Water May Help You Lose Weight
18. Bacteria Are Critical to Your Health
19. Calcium Isn't Just for Strong Bones
20. Let an Expert Personalize Your Plan<strong>**</strong>
Originally published in the January/February 2012 issue of TENNIS.