Goooooal! You hear the crowd cheering your name as you soar across the field. This is the sound you strive for, you live for. So what keeps you going? There’s one thing that separates the good players from the great and the great from the legends – dedication to training and dedication to your body. Part of this includes a strict diet. If you don’t eat right, you don’t perform right. Certain supplements can help you build a stronger, faster, body to help you on the playing field. Here are some diet do’s and don’ts to help you become the next Cristiano Ronaldo.
Good Supplements for Football Players
· Caffeine: Once banned or restricted by international sports authorities, the use of caffeine is now consumed by three out of every four elite athletes prior to competition. In the world of football, one mg of caffeine per kg of body mass will significantly improve soccer skills. Caffeine found in drinks such as coffee reduces your perceived level of exertion, allowing you to work harder and longer. It also increases jump height to help you perform your best header shot, boosts your running speed to reach the ball first, and improves total running distance.
· Protein: These are the Lego blocks of muscles. It is excellent for football training as it builds and repairs tissues and increases muscle mass. Try starting out with two protein shakes a day – one between breakfast and lunch and one post-workout.
· Creatine: Found in meat and fish, Creatine is stored in your muscles. It will help you gain weight, strength, and size and increase your energy levels during workouts and matches. Creatine helps you get over training plateaus and helps to push and stimulate muscle growth past current size and strength. In football, it will particularly increase leg power, and ultimately jumping ability and legwork.
Foods Football Players Should Avoid
· Energy Drinks: Although caffeine is good for enhancing your performance, energy drinks are full of sugar and carbonation which can cause gas, bloating, and fatigue on the field. These drinks also dehydrate you and can decrease your overall performance. When looking for caffeine supplements, stick to tea, coffee, or caffeine tablets.
· Hard Boiled Eggs: Although they are a great source of lean protein, hard boiled eggs do not provide any carbohydrates for energy. It also takes a long time to digest, staying in your stomach for a long time and ultimately weighing you down during your match.
Sticking to a strict diet on and off-season can help turn you into one of the greats, or even the legends. Dedicate yourself to your body and be sure to fill it with proper supplements to improve your performance on and off the field. – BY SALLY
