Investing in personalized nutrition is a sustainable investment in football

Investing in personalized nutrition is a sustainable investment in football.

Sports , especially high-intensity sports like football, always demand a large amount of physical strength and endurance to compensate for the constant physical strain.

Improving players' physical fitness and endurance through personalized nutrition is crucial, according to Dr. Dana Ryan, a sports nutrition expert from Herbalife – a leading global nutrition company and strategic nutrition partner of the Vietnam Football Federation.

Why is personalized nutrition necessary in sports?

Each athlete is a unique individual, with different physical characteristics, physiology, energy needs, and training goals. Therefore, personalizing nutrition is key to optimizing athletic performance. Providing the right type and amount of nutrients for each individual not only improves strength, endurance, and speed but also minimizes injury risk and enhances the body's resistance to disease. Differences between male and female athletes also affect the selection of appropriate nutrition for each individual.

Specialized nutrition is key to achieving optimal performance (Source: Herbalife Fanpage)

The importance of personalized nutrition is also the reason why this topic is expected to be part of a valuable presentation by Dr. Dana Ryan, sports nutrition expert from Herbalife, at a training session for representatives from 58 clubs nationwide organized by the Vietnam Football Federation, taking place on July 15th.

Dr. Dana Ryan, currently the Director of Sports Performance, Nutrition, and Education at Herbalife, will decode the three fundamental principles of a scientifically sound nutritional plan for soccer players: building a physical foundation with protein, replenishing energy with carbohydrates, and protecting with fruits and vegetables. More importantly, this nutritional plan needs to be specifically tailored to each player, both on and off the field, to ensure their physical condition remains at its highest level, thereby optimizing their performance.

Invest in scientifically sound nutrition for each position on the field.

According to Dr. Dana Ryan's analysis based on years of in-depth research on optimizing sports nutrition, different positions on the field require different energy needs, and therefore, nutritional regimens must also differ to optimize performance.

To explain this, Dr. Dana Ryan provides an analysis of the physical fitness and endurance of each position, corresponding to different nutritional regimens. For example, for goalkeepers, maintaining focus, save-making ability, mobility, and flexibility are paramount. Supplementing with creatine weekly and consuming caffeine about 30 minutes before a match or training session will help them enhance mental focus. Meanwhile, the defensive strength of defenders makes consuming sufficient protein extremely important for this position to increase defensive ability and endurance, as well as ensure muscle recovery and growth throughout the competition and training process.

For positions requiring speed, such as forwards, supplementing with low-GI carbohydrates will help players have enough energy to accelerate (Source: Herbalife Fanpage).

Similarly, midfielders—those who control the tempo of the game—will need sports drinks containing high-GI carbohydrates to maintain stable energy levels, while also supplementing with glutamine to protect the immune system. Conversely, for a forward, consuming sufficient low-GI carbohydrates will help them increase stamina for bursts of speed. In addition, daily creatine supplementation is also beneficial for mental focus and increased sharpness in ball handling situations.

Adjust nutrition according to training needs.

In addition to providing scientific insights into personalized nutrition, Dr. Dana Ryan also offers more detailed guidance on how to adjust nutrition to the training needs of athletes. This is truly significant for clubs and national teams alike, given that the physical fitness of Vietnamese players has always been a top concern for Vietnamese football.

Specifically, according to Dr. Dana Ryan's recommendations, athletes with higher training intensity need to consume more carbohydrates to fuel their bodies. With lighter training intensity, the body relies more on fat for fuel. Protein supplementation helps athletes regain physical balance and supports muscle growth during recovery. Meanwhile, on rest days, fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, supporting the athlete's immune system.

Adjust protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake flexibly according to workout intensity (Source: Freepik)

The sports nutrition insights from Dr. Dana Ryan during the training session on scientific nutrition for football players are part of Herbalife's plan to elevate sports nutrition in Vietnam, as the official sponsor of the Vietnamese National Football Teams.

In fact, since 2021, Herbalife has consistently partnered with the Vietnam Football Federation in maintaining and improving the physical fitness of its players. The values ​​of an optimal nutrition regimen for performance offered by this leading global nutrition company clearly demonstrate Herbalife's commitment to long-term partnership with the Vietnam Football Federation in fueling the dreams of Vietnamese football.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/dau-tu-cho-dinh-duong-ca-nhan-hoa-la-dau-tu-ben-vung-trong-bong-da-d219970.html