Nutrition is fundamental to every successful training programme. Nutrition provides the fuels for performance, the nutrients for the growth and development of muscle tissue, as well as enhancing brain function for optimal concentration, coordination, technical capability, confidence and endurance.

Training without the right nutritional support can be foolish.

If you were travelling in a car from one destination to another it is obviously a ridiculous idea to select a route that adds several hours to the journey time for no good reason. Yet this would be exactly what would happen if you train hard without bothering to eat the right foods, at the right time. It takes many times longer to achieve training goals if good nutrition practice isn’t in place. Training and nutrition go hand in hand.
 
Similarly, it would be a mad idea to put diesel in a Formula 1 car - so why is it that we are content to put the wrong fuel into the human body?  Performance on every level is dependent on nutrition. Numerous physiological functions, extended endurance capacity, maximal strength and power and good body composition measures are all reflection of the fuels and nutrients ingested. An engine is an engine.

And lastly, although we have high expectations from our equipment, clothing and footwear and are cross when new or expensive gear brakes or doesn’t give the results expected, I rarely see the same disappointment when our body’s fail. Many injuries, acute and chronic, are a manifestation of poor nutritional programmes, yet even at an elite level, they are often accepted as the wear and tear of simply ‘doing’ a sport. However, injury and illness are not OK and many can be avoided. Injury and illness are also equipment failure, often because of poor nutrition.

Nutrition can benefit performance in many ways, both physically and mentally. Following a good nutritional programme will benefit many aspects of health and performance, some of which are listed below:


    Enhanced endurance capacity
    Muscular strength and power gains
    Reduced fatigue
    Improved technical ability
    Improved concentration
    Enhanced bone density
    Better body composition measures
    Enhanced recovery
    Reduced incidence of injury
    Reduced illness
    Increased confidence
    Making weight healthily
    Improved mental attitude
    Better consistent performance

Performance in any sport is dependent on fitness. There are a number of components to fitness which include; strength/power, endurance capacity, flexibility and technical ability.  Nutrition is contributes to all components of fitness, and is a critical component of any successful training regime.

While some supplements and ergogenic aids may also influence benefit training success, some only empty our pockets.

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