Wrestlers, with the start of the season right around the corner, it’s time to feed the body with fresh whole foods – organic whenever possible.
Here are a few basic recommendations:
Organic fruit – best choices are blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries
Organic vegetables – zucchini, peppers, broccoli, pea pods, cauliflower, bok choy, asparagus, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans
Organic dark leafy greens – Arugula (one of my all-time favorites), spinach, kale, chard, micro greens
Grass fed beef and bison
Eggs (pasture raised are best)
Wild caught salmon, halibut, and sardines (not farm raised)
Bacon – but only if it has NO sulfites or nitrites. There are a few brands like Applegate Uncured Naturals.
Fats can be good, even important, if they are healthy. Healthy fats include:
Organic grass fed butter
Ghee
Coconut oil
Avocados
Raw nuts – preferably walnuts
California (single source) olive oil
Avocado oil
In terms of being in top shape, knowing what not to eat is equally as important as knowing what to eat. Let’s review some of the basic foods to avoid.
High sugar, empty calorie carbohydrates:
Soda
Diet soda
Candy
Cookies
Cakes
Ice cream
Coffee drinks with added sugar, caramel, chocolate, etc.
The “Whites” - white sugar, white flour, white potatoes
Deep fried foods – chips, fish, shrimp, tempura, French fries, Twinkies, etc.
Avoid over processed and most fast food because they tend to be high in calories and bad fats and have little or no nutritional benefit. The unhealthy foods mentioned here are foods that slow, block, and can even destroy your body’s ability to grow properly, heal, and recover.
This is a call to action, not only for wrestlers, but also for coaches and parents. Help your kids by not having these foods at events and in the house. There are many benefits in removing them from your athletes’ and family’s diet.
If you would like to learn more about how I can help you improve your diet, contact me here.