The Importance of Good Nutrition on Physical Fitness: Why You Need Both

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Physical activity has many health benefits, whether you're a competitive athlete, play a recreational sport, or practice yoga. Nutrition and physical activity go hand in hand when maximizing your workouts or improving athletic performance.

What we eat before and after exercise—and every day—greatly affects how we feel and perform during activity. The right balance of macro and micronutrients may vary depending on your fitness level and the activity you perform. Still, it is important to get enough nutrition to maintain your health and optimize performance.

Nutrients and Your Athletic Performance

Proper nutrition is imperative to maximize athletic performance. Without enough carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, athletes may feel sluggish during a workout or ravenously hungry. Athletes may also need to focus on specific vitamins and minerals for fitness performance, such as iron, vitamin D, and zinc.

Nutrition for physical activity is highly individualized, so it is helpful to consult a sports dietitian to review your needs and make specific recommendations for your body and activity level.

Good Nutrition Supports Physical Activity

While we frequently think about the health benefits of nutrition and physical activity separately, there is evidence that integrating both nutrition and physical activity produces greater benefits than focusing on one or the other.

Additionally, research shows that exercise informs food choices, and individuals who exercise may make more nutritious choices. Nutrition may also support muscle recovery by reducing inflammation. One study showed that individuals who were more physically active and had higher antioxidant intake had lower levels of systemic inflammation.

The Importance of Balance and Timing of Macronutrients

Consuming adequate amounts of macronutrients—carbohydrates, protein, and fat—to fuel our bodies is imperative for optimal exercise performance.

• Carbohydrates are our bodies' preferred source of fuel. They give us the energy we need to go about our day and maximize workouts and athletic performance.
• Protein is important for building muscle and the recovery of bones, joints, and ligaments after a workout.
• Fat keeps us satiated, helps cushion our bones and joints, and increases the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D, and K.

When it comes to fueling for exercise, finding the right balance and optimal timing of macronutrients for your body is key. Physical performance and recovery after exercise are enhanced by consuming carbohydrates and protein.

One study reviewed the effects of protein and carbohydrates on skeletal muscle regeneration given to athletes by shake or meal. Thirty-five individuals ran 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and consumed either a protein and carbohydrate shake, a meal of white bread and sour milk cheese, or nothing. The study indicated that consuming carbohydrates and protein by shake or food was preferable, as it reduced exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage and had anti-inflammatory effects.

What To Eat For Optimal Performance

"Superfood" is a word used frequently by the food industry to market specific foods as offering maximum nutritional benefits or being exceptionally nutrient-dense.

While some foods are more nutritious than others and may positively affect health, it is essential to note that no single food is responsible for optimal health or disease prevention.

If you want to increase the nutrient density of your diet, including some of the following nutritious foods is an excellent place to start. These foods—including leafy greens, berries, eggs, sweet potato, and turmeric, contain antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, and protein and are beneficial for athletic performance.

Dark Leafy Greens

Dark green leafy vegetables are packed with important nutrients such as folate, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, and fiber. Eating leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and Swiss chard, can muscle function in men and women engaging in physical activity.

Additionally, nitrates in leafy greens convert to nitric oxide, opening blood vessels and improving blood flow during exercise. You can incorporate dark leafy green vegetables into your diet by making kale salads, sautéing spinach into eggs for breakfast, or blending them into a smoothie.

Berries

Berries are known for their powerful antioxidant properties, making them an important part of an athlete's diet. Exercise causes oxidative stress, which results in the production of free radicals, muscle damage, and fatigue. Including antioxidants in the diet may help enhance athletic performance by decreasing muscle damage and inflammation.

Top a yogurt parfait with blueberries, blend strawberries into a smoothie, or add raspberries or blackberries to a salad to get an antioxidant punch.

Eggs

Eggs, including the yolks, are rich in B vitamins, choline, iron, antioxidants, and high-quality protein, which is important for muscle recovery and repair. The protein in eggs is considered to have high bioavailability, meaning it is easily digested and efficiently metabolized by the body.

Additionally, eggs contain fatty acids that are important for heart health as well as vitamins and minerals that help with cell growth and tissue repair. Eggs are an easy and quick breakfast, scrambled with veggies or hardboiled for grab-and-go.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are root vegetables packed with potassium, fiber, and vitamins A and C. They are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates needed by athletes for fuel. Getting enough potassium also reduces fatigue, muscle cramps, and the feeling of weakness.

Sweet potatoes can be incorporated into your diet in several ways. Top a baked sweet potato with Greek yogurt and almond butter for breakfast, roast potato wedges and add them to a salad, or bake until crispy and enjoy as sweet potato fries with a burger.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice, originally from India, used for cooking and medicinal benefits. It is best known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and may play a role in preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Turmeric is also a more recent focus of post-exercise recovery research. Evidence suggests individuals who use turmeric after a workout reduced muscle pain and damage, and decreased inflammatory markers.

Incorporate turmeric into your routine by sprinkling the spice on roasted vegetables, adding it to a curry, or making golden milk. Turmeric is also available in supplement form.

Hydration Makes a Difference

Adequate hydration is imperative to overall health and exercise performance. We all lose water through normal bodily functions like breathing, digestion, and sweating. Athletes need to replace additional water and electrolytes lost through exertion during exercise.

Dehydration can lead to cardiovascular strain, altered metabolic function, and increased body temperature. Individuals also lose sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium with sweat. To avoid dehydration, it is important to ensure you are drinking before, during, and after exercise to maintain adequate hydration levels.

Sustainable Nutrition Habits

Whether you're training to run one mile, your first 5K, or a marathon, start with small and realistic nutrition and hydration goals. Trying to overhaul your entire diet at once can feel overwhelming, and is likely unsustainable. Small goals are more sustainable and, therefore, more beneficial in the long term.

If you feel your hydration is lacking, try investing in a fun water bottle. Flavor your water with fresh fruit or liquid beverage enhancers if you like your water to have a taste. Try adding one extra glass of water to your day.

Looking to include more antioxidants in your diet? Try adding one fruit and one vegetable to your meals each day. Pick one new nutrient-dense food and add it to your weekly meal plan. Add one each week, and soon enough, you will have greatly increased the variety of vitamins and minerals in your diet.

A Word From Verywell

The importance of good nutrition on physical fitness cannot be overstated. Sustainable, enjoyable nutrition habits are key to reaching your goals. It can be tempting to follow a fad diet or social media trend, but frequently these diets are restrictive and unsustainable. If you have questions or concerns or want individualized nutrition recommendations, seek advice from a registered dietitian.

Frequently Asked Questions

S.M.A.R.T goals stand for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. S.M.A.R.T goals serve as small, doable action steps to help you change your behavior and achieve your goal. An example of a S.M.A.R.T goal is "I will include one vegetable at dinner 3 nights this week."

Nutrition impacts so much of our ability to function, from our physical to mental wellbeing. Incorporating nutritious foods in your diet and eating a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat appropriate for your needs can positively affect your everyday life and fitness performance.

Nutrition needs vary based on many factors, including age and life stage. As we age, we may experience some changes, such as bone loss, loss of muscle mass, thinner skin, and less stomach acid. Some of these changes may make you prone to nutrient deficiencies and you may need to increase your intake of certain foods or add supplements. Aging also causes a slower metabolism and decreased calorie needs.

Several factors affect your nutritional needs, including genetics, health status, environment, gut health, stage of life, fitness and activity level, and medications. Speak with a registered dietitian to better estimate your individual nutritional needs.

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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• The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Water-Induced Thermogenesis, Michael Boschmann, 7/2/13
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By Darla Leal
Darla Leal is a Master Fitness Trainer, freelance writer, and the creator of Stay Healthy Fitness, where she embraces a "fit-over-55" lifestyle.

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