Just as a Formula 1 team wouldn't use shoddy fuel for their cars, elite athletes shouldn't eat poorly as they try to get the best out of themselves. Nutrition is crucial for fueling athletes for training, performance and recovery. The two most important macronutrients for athletes are carbohydrates and protein.
Carbohydrates provide energy —they fuel the body for exercise and help to sustain performance, and then aid recovery after exercise. Protein is important to repair and build muscles after exercise. Athletes' nutrient requirements for carbohydrates and protein will depend on the type, intensity, and duration of the exercise they complete and their body weight.
How much do athletes need? Reflecting their importance for performance, there are specific carbohydrate and protein guidelines for athletes. There are also guidelines to promote high carbohydrate availability for training sessions and competition . Individual requirements vary: athletes will need more carbs through the day if they exercise at greater intensities for longer periods.
Also, the more the athlete weighs, the more carbs and protein they will require. Although research in this area has grown and there is increased focus on education, it seems many elite athletes still find it difficult to fuel their bodies. What did we look at? The AFLW is an emerging sport, and we were interested to see if these elite women footballers met the recommendations for daily protein and carbohydrate intake as well as during.