The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and olive oil, and allows moderate consumption of fish, dairy, and red wine contains various compounds that boost athletic performance. Foods in the Mediterranean diet contain antioxidants and nitrates and have anti-inflammatory and alkalizing properties. Sticking to this diet improve endurance and exercise performance.

A team of researchers at Saint Louis University (SLU) in Missouri also wondered about this and set out to investigate. Edward Weiss, Ph.D., who is a professor of nutrition and dietetics at SLU led the new study.Prof. Weiss and colleagues recruited seven women and four men who were “recreationally active.” After 4 days of following the predominantly plant-based diet, the researchers asked the participants to run 5 kilometers (km) on a treadmill.

Nine to 16 days later, the researchers asked the same participants to follow a Western diet for another 4 days and take the 5 km treadmill test again. A Western diet is typically “characterized by an overconsumption and reduced variety of refined sugars, salt, and saturated fat. “The researchers also wanted to test the effects that these two diets would have on anaerobic, or muscle-strengthening exercise. So, they asked the participants to take a cycle test, a vertical jump test, and a handgrip test at the same time points throughout the...

http://haleplushearty.org/2019/03/12/improving-athletic-performance-with-mediterranean-diet/

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