Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
Volume 128, Issue 7, Pages 1285-1298Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114521003202
Keywords
Mediterranean diet; Health; Exercise performance; Vascular function; Cognitive function; Oxidative stress
Categories
Funding
- UK Nutrition Research Partnership (UK NRP)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) [MR/T001852/1]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This review discusses the potential effects of a Mediterranean diet on competitive athletes, including reducing disease risk and enhancing performance. The article highlights that modifications to the Mediterranean diet in accordance with contemporary sports nutrition practices could benefit the health and performance of athletes.
Nutrition plays a key role in training for, and competing in, competitive sport, and is essential for reducing risk of injury and illness, recovering and adapting between bouts of activity, and enhancing performance. Consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been demonstrated to reduce risk of various non-communicable diseases and increase longevity. Following the key principles of a MedDiet could also represent a useful framework for good nutrition in competitive athletes under most circumstances, with potential benefits for health and performance parameters. In this review, we discuss the potential effects of a MedDiet, or individual foods and compounds readily available in this dietary pattern, on oxidative stress and inflammation, injury and illness risk, vascular and cognitive function, and exercise performance in competitive athletes. We also highlight potential modifications which could be made to the MedDiet (whilst otherwise adhering to the key principles of this dietary pattern) in accordance with contemporary sports nutrition practices, to maximise health and performance effects. In addition, we discuss potential directions for future research.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available