Athletes’ diet and hydration have a fundamental impact on both their health and their athletic performance.

Making good dietary choices (grains, meat, fish, legumes, etc.) is a factor that helps enhance an athlete’s potential and achieve the desired results.

Apart from the type of food, it is important to consume adequate amounts of energy, micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, vitamin factors, protein amino acids, nucleotides and essential fatty acids) and water on a schedule adapted to workouts, rest periods and competitions. Micronutrition and hydration for athletes of all ages, whether professional or amateur, is especially important, because all other nutritional and training strategies depend on them to succeed.

In the case of intense physical exertion, protein and carbohydrate intake must be adjusted correctly to meet the athlete’s needs, while simultaneously balancing micronutrient intake. If only carbohydrate and protein intake is increased, but not that of micronutrients, the body will be unable to generate energy efficiently to cover their immediate needs or even to repair tissues. In addition, some of these micronutrients (minerals and water-soluble vitamins) are eliminated in varying and significant amounts in urine and sweat, or are depleted in muscle generation-destruction. Their intake, therefore, needs to be carefully controlled.

Another factor to consider, based on the most recent scientific studies, is the state of the athlete’s gut and how this influences the intestinal barrier in terms of nutrient absorption. A gut that is stressed, permeable or with an altered microbiota will not perform its functions properly, reducing micronutrient absorption.