WHAT DO OLYMPIC ATHLETES EAT?
Olympic hopefuls have some interesting ways to load up on carbs and protein, and we're not talking about raiding the bulk aisle at Whole Foods. For those who'll engage in the performance of their lives, it's no surprise that bizarre eating habits and food rituals go hand in hand with their competitiveness. From 20 pounds of meat and wine (!) to rigid pescetarianism, here are what the world's best have and will continue to chow on before all eyes are on them.
1,600 Calories, One Food
Yohan Blake, the Jamaican sprinter and 100-meter world champion, has been making waves for stealing Usain Bolt's thunder on the track during Olympic trials. When asked how he gets his athletic stamina, his answer was unbelievable: eating [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgXUBxbpDC0"]16 bananas a day[/ame]. At about 100 calories per peelable fruit, that's three-quarters the amount an average person needs in a day — in bananas!
Got (Lots And Lots Of) Milk?
U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman will be trekking to London soon for her first-ever Olympic Games, but this all-around powerhouse isn't just subsiding on meat, beans, and nuts for her protein intake. The Massachusetts native
swears by chocolate milk, and tons of it. She claims it's been "scientifically proven to be the best recovery drink that you can have after your workout" for its high carbohydrate and protein content, and that other athletes pound the tasty beverage, as well. From the looks of how well trials went, we should have been guzzling a lot more of that Hershey's syrup back in the day.
No Pork, No Beef, No Lamb, No Dope
China's Olympic hopefuls are on a newly meat-free diet, but don't get PETA on the phone just yet, since this one's not by choice. Due to the country's pork supply being
tainted with clenbuterol, Chinese athletes are steering clear of meats entirely in order to avoid the risk of accidental doping. While the World Anti Doping Agency has warned that Olympians could eat the dietary staple in federation-approved cafeterias and restaurants, Chinese athletes have been going cold turkey (and, well, pig) and eating fish and protein powder instead. Some of these competitors include the Chinese women's volleyball team, which, as their coach claims, have been suffering on the court since their dietary shift.
Would You Like Some Cheese With That 20 Pounds of Meat and Wine?
Things were a lot different in Ancient Greece. Opening ceremonies were done without the aid of LED lights, more people knew what the heptathlon was, and Bob Costas was surely nowhere to be found. But, back in those days, protein bars and Gatorade bottles were far from typical athlete sustenance. Early Olympians focused on a cheese-and-fruit-based diet, and one runner apparently started a
meat-only fad when he hit a winning streak while subsiding on animal parts. Best of all, lore has it that wrestler and big-time winner Milo of Croton ate "20 pounds of meat and as many of bread, and he drank three pitchers of wine." Looks like a typical Friday night for us.
As Much McDonald's As Athletes — And Spectators — Can Handle
Michael Phelps has publicly refuted the joke rumor that he eats 12,000 calories a day, but teammate Ryan Lochte, on the other hand, is known to have a bit of an [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fjTy8dCKt4"]obsession with fast food[/ame]. While competing at the Beijing Olympic Games in '08, Ryan apparently
only ate McDonald's throughout his entire two-week stay. He publicly announced backing off of the greasy goods in preparation for London, but we wonder how he'll fare with the world's largest Mickey D's parked just outside the Olympic Arena. If he does choose to slip into his old ways, it shouldn't be too hard to keep the energy up — after all, it'll only take 21 and a half Big Macs to meet Phelps' minimum.
Not Much Of Anything At All
While some sports require athletes to consume, consume, consume, others ask quite the opposite of their Olympian hopefuls. Take Son Yeon-Jae, for example. The South Korean rhythmic gymnast eats "a sparrow's breakfast and lunch" and even skips dinner, an odd move for a professional athlete, and a thin one at that. But, in Son's eyes,
it's necessary for a win. She admits, "Western gymnasts have longer limbs, so even if we weigh the same, they look slimmer. As such, I have to weigh less to look as good." (No one tell her about that on-campus McDonald's, mmk?)
By ABC News
Jul 30, 2012 8:33am
They Eat What? Food Secrets of Olympic Athlete:
It takes more than just practice to become an Olympian. Gold medal performances require some serious nutrition. Have you ever wondered what these elite athletes eat to stay in peak shape?
Keri Glassman, a registered dietitian and founder of
Nutritious Life Meals, appeared on “Good Morning America” today to give you a glimpse into the diets of some top athletes. Some of their meals could surprise you.
Crazy Calorie Count
Glassman said Olympians eat a lot of food — quantities that for ordinary people would constitute pigging out. One secret of swimmer Michael Phelps’ astonishing performance in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was consuming as many as 12,000 calories in one day.
Other athletes fuel up on some of the following foods: A pound of pasta drizzled with olive oil (about 800 calories), a dozen eggs (about 840 calories), a pint of Ben & Jerry’s cheesecake brownie ice cream (about 1,000 calories), pizza (about 2,000 calories).
Athletes can eat like this and not gain any weight because their workouts are intense. According to Glassman, Phelps’ workouts can burn 4,000 to 6,000 calories in a day, and those calories must be replenished in order to train the following day.
The body needs carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and fluid in order to be properly fueled for exercise. Eating right allows athletes to delay fatigue, work harder — possibly giving them the edge they need to set a personal record — and recover faster, Glassman said.
Snacking Secrets
Some athletes eat wacky foods that they swear improve their performance.
Yohan Blake, the Jamaica sprinter and 100-meter world champion, has been making waves for stealing champion sprinter Usain Bolt’s thunder on the track during the Olympic trials. Asked about how he gets his stamina, Blake answered that he eats 16 bananas per day, Glassman said.
Bananas have about 100 calories each.
Jonathan Horton, the lead gymnast on the U.S. team, has a blood sugar problem. His solution is honey. When he starts to feel shaky at the gym, he takes swigs of honey to boost his energy, Glassman said. According to Horton, the sugar rushes to his blood right away and he feels amazing for the next hour or so, she added.
If you want to try it, use natural honey.
Kerry Walsh, the two-time American Olympic medalist and beach volleyball player, eats lots of almond butter and honey sandwiches throughout the day, especially before she competes, Glassman said.
Almond butter is packed with endurance-boosting nutrients including protein, plus healthy fats. Protein helps prevent muscle wasting during exercise and prevents you from feeling hungry during exercise. The healthy fats in almond butter are rich in calories and provide energy for hours.
You can combine a complex carbohydrate, such as whole wheat toast, with almond butter for an energy-rich snack before exercise.
Foods for Recovery
What are the best foods to help the body recover after rigorous competition?
U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman swears by chocolate milk because of its high carbohydrate and protein content, Glassman said.
For Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, the recovery meal is grilled chicken breasts with Alfredo sauce, whole-grain spaghetti and a salad with lemon juice and olive oil. Lochte, who recently cut out junk food, candy and soda, has undertaken a rigorous strength-training regimen that involves flipping tractor tires, dragging shipyard chains and tossing beer kegs, Glassman said.
Lochte’s recovery meal has all the important macronutrients necessary for recovery.
Other recovery foods Glassman mentioned:
Pickle juice. The salty-yet-savory juice has high doses of all-important sodium, potassium and magnesium. Sodium prevents muscle cramps.
Sweet tart cherries. Pack these in your gym back. The antioxidants in cherry juice may suppress the enzymes that cause inflammation of the body from the stress of exercise.
Beet juice. The blood-red elixir of the beet is apparently the hottest thing for Olympic athletes looking for a legal performance boost, Glassman said. Beet juice is rich in nitrates, which help muscles use oxygen more efficiently.