Enhancing performance and

managing stress through nutrition

Fueling Performance

When using food to fuel performance, the quality, type, and timing of your nutrient intake matters. Food as fuel supports performance and recovery. To get the most out of your workout or training session, it is ideal to consume a high quality meal about 3-4 hours prior to your session. This will allow your body enough time to digest the food and make it useful for energizing your workout/training session.  

Your pre-workout meal should include protein, complex carbohydrates, and some light fat. Approximately one hour prior to training, it can beneficial to consume a quick digesting meal of carbohydrates and protein. This quick absorbing meal will help further fuel your workout. A protein bar is an example of this. 

After your workout, you should consume a fast digesting protein and carbohydrate mix. This post-workout meal helps to support the refueling and recovery process from the workout/training session you just completed. It is most ideal to consume this recovery meal within 30-60 minutes post workout. The sooner the better. This can easily be accomplished with a protein shake that provides 20-30g of protein and 60-120g of carbohydrates.   

Nutritional Benefits From Protein Sports Supplements

One of the best ways that a person can benefit from a healthy diet and exercise routine is the addition of sports nutrition in the form of extra protein. Protein is found naturally in many of the foods we eat. But a person who exercises often, especially athletes in training, can benefit from .7-.8 grams of protein per pound of their body weight. This presents a problem in our fast breakfast (or no breakfast) and fast food lunch lifestyles. We don't always get the protein our body needs to benefit from our daily workouts. This needed protein can be acquired safely from sports supplements promoting extra protein.

Protein nutritional sports drinks and mixes can provide many benefits other than increasing muscle mass and body tone. Proper protein sports supplements can help your body repair damaged cells, such as repairing muscles and bones that may get damaged during a workout. Getting the right amount of protein, even through sports nutrition supplements, can help the body make essential amino acids as well. One type of protein sports nutritional supplement you may see is one called whey protein. Whey comes from milk and is one of the highest quality forms of protein with a rich amount of amino acids. And unlike other forms of protein (red meat for example) whey offers protein in a low fat and low cholesterol form. Alternatively, whey protein isolate is a better option for some, as the isolate form of whey is lactose free. Whether you just run every other day or you are a professional athlete, protein sports supplements can help increase your body's energy and strength. Most athletes consume a protein shake of some kind before and immediately after exercise or an event to help repair and rebuild damaged muscles.

Nutritional Supplements And A Balanced Diet

If you are a person who is interested in eating a balanced diet in order to enjoy a healthy life, you may be contemplating the use of vitamins and nutritional supplements. There are some definite benefits that can be derived from the proper use of vitamin products and nutritional supplements. However, in order to make vitamins and nutritional supplements an effective and appropriate part of an overall healthy diet program, it is necessary to understand how these products fit within an overall healthy eating regimen.

In reality, before you embark on any diet plan that includes the use of supplements and vitamins it is important for you to obtain and seek medical advice. Each and every year people embark on a diet plan that includes the use of nutritional supplements without first consulting a health care or nutrition specialist. Some of these people end up suffering serious health problems due to a diet plan (which includes supplements) that they embark on without a professional consultation. Of course, in the end, you want to improve your health through the use of nutritional supplements as opposed to causing health problems through the use of such products.

Nutritional supplements (and vitamins) can be utilized as a means of supporting an otherwise healthy eating and exercise program. In simple terms, nutritional supplements can be used to better your overall balanced diet plan on two fronts:
1. Nutritional supplements can be used to fill in some minor nutritional gaps in your overall healthy diet.
2. Nutritional supplements can be used to assist in boosting the effectiveness of your overall healthy diet plan.

As an aside, nutritional supplements can also be utilized to make any companion workout routine more effective. By properly balancing your overall diet, your exercise routine and the proper utilization of nutritional supplements, you will be well on your way to establishing a complete plan for healthy living. Through such a regimented and appropriately crafted program you will enjoy better health and improve your quality of life, both now and in long term.

Remember, before implementing dietary supplements into your diet, it is strongly advised that you consult with your primary care physician or a registered dietitian first. 

Nutrition and Stress 

When you’re stressed out, the foods that you’re turning to are most likely going to be traditional ‘comfort’ foods – think big meals, take-out, fatty foods, sweet foods, and alcohol. Let’s face it – we’ve all found some comfort in a tasty meal and a bottle of beer or glass of wine when we’ve been stressed out or upset about something. However, this isn’t a good permanent solution. When you’re turning to unhealthy foods you can feel better temporarily, but in the long run, you will feel worse. When your body isn’t getting the right nutrition, you can begin to feel less energetic, more lethargic, and in some cases less able to concentrate and focus. All of this can lead to even more stress.

Foods that Fight Stress

If you’ve been feeling more stressed out than usual lately, it’s important to know which foods are best to choose and which to avoid when it comes to combating stress, and helping you to deal with feelings of stress and anxiety. The best way to fight stress is to have a healthy, balanced diet which includes a moderate amount of each of the different food groups.

Filling up on foods such as whole grains, leafy vegetables, and lean proteins as the basic staples of the diet is the best way to ensure that your body gets the optimum amounts of nutrients to fight both physical and mental health problems. When it comes to choosing the foods to eat, some have a range of great properties which help the body to combat stress. Choosing these stress-busting foods will help to heal and calm your mind permanently, rather than providing a temporary fix.

Some of the best stress-fighting foods include:

Avocado – Avocados are a creamy and versatile fruit that can be eaten in a range of different ways whether you enjoy it raw, made into sauces, dressings and dips, or in a smoothie. These nutrient-dense fruits have the properties to stress proof your body, thanks to their high glutathione content which specifically blocks the intestinal absorption of certain fats which cause oxidative damage. Avocados also contain higher levels of vitamin E, folate, and beta-carotene than any other fruit, which boosts their stress-busting properties. However, be careful with portion control when eating avocado, as it is high in fat.

Blueberries – If you’re feeling stressed out and reaching for the snacks, swapping chocolate or chips for one of the best superfoods is a great way to help you deal with your stress levels and achieve a higher level of calm. Blueberries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, especially anthocyanin, which means that this berry has been linked to a wide range of health benefits including sharper cognition, better focus, and a clearer mind – all of which can help you to better deal with stress.

Chamomile Tea – Of course, it’s not all about what you’re eating when it comes to managing stress; what you’re drinking can also alleviate or worsen the stress you're feeling. Drinking liquids that are high in sugars and caffeine, such as coffee, energy drinks, or soda, can actually increase your stress levels if consumed regularly. Chamomile tea has long been used as a natural bedtime soother, and it has also been used in clinical trials, which determined that chamomile tea is effective in reducing the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Chocolate – Although it’s usually seen as an unhealthy treat, there is an undeniable link between chocolate and our mood. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can actually make you happier. However, that doesn’t mean that you can start munching on chocolate bars every time you're stressed out – chocolate works best as a de-stressor when eaten in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Dark chocolate in particular is best for you, as it contains more flavanols and polyphenols, two hugely important antioxidants that can help combat stress, more than many fruit juices.

Beef – Grass-fed beef is not only kinder to the planet and to animals, it’s also good for people, too. Grass-fed beef has a huge range of antioxidants, including beta-carotene and Vitamins C and E, which can help your body to fight stress and anxiety. If you’re looking for more reasons to spend a little more money on organic, grass-fed beef, it’s also lower in fat than grain-fed beef whilst being higher in omega-3.

Oatmeal – Oatmeal is great in that it can be a filling comfort food, but also has a large number of healthy properties to actually make you feel better from the inside out. A complex carbohydrate, eating oatmeal causes your brain to produce higher levels of the feel-good chemical serotonin, helping you to feel calmer and less stressed. Studies have shown that kids who choose oatmeal for breakfast tend to be much sharper throughout the morning in school compared to kids who had alternative morning meals.

Walnuts – If you’re looking for a healthy snacking option that will help you to stay better in control of your stress levels, walnuts are a great choice. There is no denying the sweet, pleasant flavor of walnuts and they can be a tasty snack for in-between meals or as part of a desert. A versatile nut, walnuts are great for salads, or add them to a sweet treat such as coffee and walnut cake.

Pistachios – another food that is great for snacking on and can also help to combat stress and anxiety in the long term is pistachios. Studies have found that simply eating two small, snack-size portions of pistachios per day can lower vascular constriction when you are stressed, putting less pressure on your heart by further dilating your arteries. Along with this, the rhythmic, repetitive act of shelling pistachios can actually be quite therapeutic!

Green Leafy Vegetables – leafy, green vegetables should be a pivotal part of anyone’s diet. Along with helping to combat stress, leafy greens are full of nutrients and antioxidants which help to fight off disease and leave your body feeling healthier and more energized. Dark leafy greens, for example spinach, are especially good for you since they are rich in folate, which helps your body to produce more mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is a ‘feel-good’ chemical. Making leafy greens a part of your diet will help you to feel happier and less stressed out overall.

Fermented foods – last but not least, eating fermented foods such as yogurt can help to keep your gut healthy, which actually in turn will help to improve your mental health and reduce stress levels. The beneficial bacteria which are found in fermented foods such as yogurt actually have a direct effect on your brain chemistry and transmit positive mood and behavior regulating signals to your brain via the vagus nerve.

Putting Together Your Nutrition Plan

Planning your meals wisely is key to not only staying physically fit and healthy, but also to staying mentally strong and being able to best manage your levels of stress. Knowing which foods to avoid and which are the best to reach for to snack on when you’re feeling worried and anxious is important to helping you get control over your emotions and fears. 

When you’re feeling stressed, you may be tempted to reach for classic ‘comfort foods’ – usually foods that are laden with sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However, although these foods can make you feel momentarily better, they will actually make you feel worse in the long run.

Having stress-busting snacks such as fresh berries, dark chocolate, yogurt, walnuts or pistachios, or even a fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens in it can help you to feel better in both the short and long term when it comes to stress. When it comes to combating and dealing with stress in the long run, it’s important to make sure that for the most part, you are eating a diet that is healthy and balanced.

In order to stay on track, it’s a good idea to make a meal plan for your week and plan ahead to make sure that you have a good selection of these stress-busting foods in your kitchen to make meals and snacks from when you’re feeling like stress-eating. Making sure that the majority of your meals include foods such as lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier overall, but can improve your mental health and stress levels, too.

A good example of a healthy, stress-busting menu would be:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries or a fruit smoothie with avocado and berries

Mid-morning snack: Natural yogurt with fruit or a handful of pistachio nuts

Lunch: A whole-grain pasta salad filled with plenty of leafy greens

Afternoon snack: Dark chocolate

Dinner: Grass-fed beef with vegetables

Before bed: Chamomile tea

Of course, you don’t need to stick to this menu – but it gives you a good idea! Remember to exercise good portion control when eating foods such as nuts, chocolate, yogurt, or avocado! As the saying goes, you are what you eat – so make sure that first and foremost, you’re filling yourself up with foods which are good for your mental health.

Key Takeaways

1. The timing and quality of your food choices can help to fuel your performance for and recovery from exercise. 

2. Protein intake is important for frequent exercisers and athletes to support muscle growth and recovery from exercise.

3. Nutritional supplements can help enhance a complete diet and address areas of deficiencies. 

4. When stress eating, it is important to choose foods that will work to improve your health instead of ruining it.