Isabella Frediani Discusses the Importance of Nutrition in Young Athlete’s Careers
By: Dylan Tehada
A healthy diet can go a long way in fueling a long and successful athletic career. Especially in basketball where conditioning and staying in shape is of the utmost importance, a focus on strong nutrition habits can help any hooper, young or old, elevate their game to the next level. Knowledge about the role of nutrition in sports is at an all time high and there are so many great resources from calorie tracking apps to physical wellness professionals available to hoopers seeking to learn about how a balanced diet can be achieved. Isabella Frediani, Functional Health Coach and sister of UPB’s very own Bianca Turner, is one of the many sources of knowledge leading the charge about the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet.
Frediani founded her business LIVE BIG on the principle of bio individuality, which acknowledges that wellness is not one size fits all. The same applies to nutrition in sports. Athletes have different goals and needs when it comes to diet, but the one constant that cannot be denied is that every athlete needs a healthy source of fuel. No matter the athlete there are foundational dietary practices and food groups that are conducive to high performance,
“You can categorize foods that have high performance potential and foods that might not serve you best in certain situations. If you have a game or practice, you want to pick those high protein, non processed foods, with low processed sugar that are going to be really supportive of your performance,” Frediani stated.
An athlete's nutrition can begin at any point in their career. Frediani emphasizes that just like any other wellness habit, the earlier a habit is adopted the more likely it will have a positive impact on an athlete in the long run. Nutrition may not be the most flashy form of training and maintenance, but establishing a strong foundation as a young athlete will only enhance the hours spent in the gym training.
“As a young athlete, you have such an incredible opportunity to build a strong foundation while still living a really fun and thriving life, and building a foundation right now that'll make your life different when you're older,” Frediani said.
Knowing what food groups are conducive to high performance is the first step towards implementing good nutrition habits. According to Frediani, maximizing sustainable sources of fuel is of the utmost importance for a young athlete focused on nutrition. Protein is a great example of a sustainable food that not only provides a lot of nutritional value, but also fuels an athlete for a while as they train or play for long periods of time. Another helpful tip is focusing on food groups such as yogurt, lean meats, and eggs that help maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent fatigue and crashes throughout the day.
Protein is a key building block in every athlete’s career. Whether it be building muscle or maintaining energy, protein is a foundational source of fuel that can help athletes perform at their best. Three benefits of protein in particular include: building muscle mass, helps muscles recover after injury or physical exertion, and maintains steady blood sugar levels. No matter what an athlete’s goals are, protein is a key building block to paving a long lasting and healthy career.
Nutrition is a vital aspect of an athlete’s journey that can enhance performance and help an athlete elevate their game. Establishing strong nutrition habits not only benefit athletes in their daily routines, but also prove to provide long term results that help active individuals of all backgrounds. As knowledge regarding nutrition in sports continues to grow, we cannot wait to see how young athletes and hoopers benefit from these resources and take their game to the next level!
