A highly competitive endurance athlete wants to know which foods should be avoided before a meet. He has been following a high-protein diet for the past six months, but he hasn't been performing his best and is wondering if his diet is the best choice. What advice would you give him?
What will be an ideal response?
High-protein diets should be discouraged as pre-performance dietary regimens among athletes for several reasons. First, many dietary protein sources are also sources of total and saturated fats, which may increase lifetime risk of coronary artery disease. Second, high protein and fat intakes result in reduced carbohydrate intake and may delay digestion and absorption, limiting the amount of energy available for use during physical activity. Finally, more water is required for the breakdown of protein than for either fat or carbohydrate due to the increased water loss that accompanies the excretion of nitrogen. Additionally, foods that are high in fat, protein, and/or dietary fiber should be avoided for at least four hours prior to exercise, because they take longer to digest and may cause physical discomfort during exercise.
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