What can our idols teach us about health?
Whether you are an aspiring Anthony Joshua or a budding Baryshnikov, nutrition
is the root of all athletic achievements.
Three modern day idols, three routes to success – what is the secret of their
sporting supremacy?
Anthony Joshua – undefeated heavyweight champion
His knockout rate is unlike anything ever seen in a British champion. Now,
following his latest victory, over Carlos Takam, as reported in
The Guardian,
he is now being primed for a title unification match within the next couple of
years. Anthony Joshua’s diet is surprisingly balanced, and while protein from
white meat and fish is an obvious component of his diet, but it is not as
dominant as some might believe. Much of Joshua’s success, which has led him – as
noted by a recent
Betwayblog – to a potential SPOTY win, also lies within the
mineral complexities of his vegetables. Steamed (not boiled) broccoli and
spinach take centre stage, giving him the iron needed to stay fit.
Carbohydrates are
often misunderstood, but for athletes who spend all day
training, they are essential. There is no secret formula involved, and for
Joshua, the very idea of eating ‘carbs’ only every other day, or any two out of
seven days is ridiculous. So too is the idea of rigidly timing his daily intake
– he eats around the same time as anyone in a 9-5 job. What must be noted is
that Joshua NEVER misses breakfast. Typically, his early morning breakfast will
consist of wholemeal bread, banana, eggs, apple juice and Greek yoghurt. Boxers
can occasionally binge on food after the pre-fight official weigh-in, to give
themselves some extra bulk before the fight. Out of personal choice, Joshua does
no such thing, and the effects are self-evident.
Inspiring though this may be, what works for one boxer might not for another, so
some research is needed prior to anyone taking on a specialised, personal diet.
In addition, a diet of over 5,000 calories a day – or anywhere near that amount
– is NOT advisable, unless approved by a fully-qualified doctor.
James Milner – evergreen Liverpool hero
In October 2015, Jurgen Klopp took over a Liverpool side that appeared
disorganised, and completely incapable of using its inherent talent. Within a
year, the German mastermind had taken his side to the summit of the Premier
League. Every player benefitted from the nutritional revolution at Anfield, but
as a veteran player continually fielded out of position, the positive effect on
James Milner was particularly startling. The person behind Liverpool’s new
regime was Mona Nemmer, whose experience has led her to devise a unique
nutrition plan. All food at the Melwood training centre is now locally-sourced
and organic, and once again, the mineral content that can provide Premier League
footballer’s with much-needed stamina is preserved to the fullest possible
extent.
Milner, along with his Liverpool teammates, consume four meals a day, and the
meals are more akin to a Michelin-starred restaurant. Although eating fillets of
meat and fish is not always an option for a footballer in the lower reaches of
the Football League pyramid, consuming quality cuts with no fat enabled Milner
to become leaner and more agile as he filled in an unfamiliar position, but did
so to great effect throughout 2016/17.
Louis Smith – gold standard gymnast
Winning silver at the last two Olympiads, in a sport dominated by Russian and
Chinese gymnasts, Louis Smith has brought British gymnastics back onto the world
scene. Every man yearns for his six-pack, and none of his successes would have
been possible without a strict personal regime and diet. Again, steamed
vegetables figure largely, but compared to fellow Olympian Joshua, Smith’s own
diet centres much more heavily on the
vital consumption
of protein,
fibres and
whole foods. As a personal preference, Smith goes for a more international theme
when it comes to a controlled diet, and exploring other options can often
motivate people to stick to an athletic diet. His personal favourite dish is
couscous with chickpeas and chicken, a Moroccan staple that his high in fibre.
Although consuming ‘treat’ foods like crisps and nachos would not completely
undo his muscle tone, the weight added would make it all the more difficult for
him to negotiate his favoured pommel horse. Such snacks contain ‘empty’
carbohydrates, the nutritional value of which is far less than other carb foods
such as wholemeal bread and brown rice.
In conclusion
The common theme here is balance, and even those who are but a novice when it
comes to a nutrition plan – self-imposed or otherwise – can find their own
individualised plan. Even a small amount of research can reveal much about how
‘body types’ and different sports match with specific diets that focus on one
food group to a specific extent.
