Put these unexpected foods to work in your training, racing and recovery

Just read this on Ironman.com....going to get some butter.

You might think you have your recovery nutrition down and your race day fueling nailed, but what about your daily nutrition? You’ve no doubt heard of so-called “super foods,” complete with their super price tag and super claims attached. I guarantee that you have at least three of the the five foods below in your fridge or pantry already. They are cheap, and can be incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways.
Go ahead, be surprised.
Eggs: Eggs are an endurance athletes’ best friend. Containing the highest quality protein of all foods, eggs are in the gold standard for protein. All the essential amino acids are represented in an egg: lysine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylanine, tryptophan, histidine and methionine, and their protein is highly digestible (meaning it can be retained and used by our tissues.)
Eggs are also rich in vitamins, minerals, Omega 3 fats and antioxidants, and contribute significantly to energy production, strength and power as well as muscle synthesis and recovery. Convenient, cheap and easy to prepare make eggs an athlete-friendly dish for busy triathletes.
Butter: Yes, you read that right. Butter’s saturated fat is not the villain it was once thought to be, and in fact offers many health benefits. Saturated fats are necessary for brain function, support the immune system and metabolism, as well as cell structure and function. Butter is also not only a good source of vitamins (A, D, E and K) but is necessary for absorption of fat-soluble nutrients in vegetables. For triathletes burning through calories in multiple daily training sessions, butter provides energy and assists in production of hormones that help buffer the stress of intense exercise.
Turmeric: This root resembles ginger, but is most commonly found in powdered form or as part of a curry powder blend. Studies have shown that compounds in turmeric may inhibit production of inflammatory markers in muscle tissue, and enhance post-exercise muscle repair. Turmeric has also been shown to assist with circulation and the delivery of oxygen to working muscles.
Peppermint: Simply smelling peppermint may help boost your performance. Studies reveal that speed and strength are positively affected by the odor of peppermint or spearmint. You could consider adding fresh mint leaves to your drink or trying something mint flavored during that next key workout or race for a natural performance boost.
Chocolate: Cocoa is one of the richest sources of antioxidants we know of so far, and has been proven to have positive effects when it comes to heart and cardiovascular health. High levels of magnesium also mean it is beneficial for muscle function. But one of the latest findings that’s most applicable to triathletes is that cocoa has the ability to act as a mild sunscreen. When consumed in just 20 grams of dark chocolate, flavanols—one of the many antioxidants in cocoa—reduce UV-induced skin burning and help to fight off skin cancers. For triathletes, time in the sun is a given, making this a delicious and necessary addition to any diet. (Note: it is the cocoa that contains the health benefits, so consuming dark chocolate with a high cocoa content is the way to go.)
Want to aid your hard training with performance-enhancing foods? Get creative in the kitchen and put these foods to work in your diet.
Pip Taylor is a nutritionist and professional triathlete.


Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/news/articles/09/5-superfoods-for-triathletes.aspx#ixzz2fCI6hShM

Sebastian Kienle bike speed 70.3 2013 Las Vegas

Time to post a few things. Meanwhile check this out, I wonder if Sebbi can match the pro tour time trial riders, thats how you win an Ironman World Championship

A quick word on Nutrition

We have discussed it at the AGM and we will have plenty to lay down as principles and guidelines.

Every now and then I come across some interesting tips or recipes to help, too many to remember, this blog will ensure that they will never go to waste again.

So here it is. We discussed that the professionals say the key to a balanced healthy body is 20% fitness but 80% nutrition. Nutrition is hard, not just becuase we love food but because its about getting the right foods under time constraints, while keeping kosher, and while balancing a budget.

Reading this piece from Novak Djokovic, I have tried to keep an open mind to the above, and understanding that this guy probably has two full time dieticians.

Here is the link:
http://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-credits-strict-diet-for-tennis-success/story-fndkzym4-1226704691711

He has a book coming out that includes his strict nutrition regimend, so we aren't going to stick to one block of chocolate after 6 hours of exercise. I would eat the whole bar and a tub of ice cream, however alot of his diet makes sense and the three day meal structure below provides some great ideas for filling nutritous meals. If anyone finds Cashew and Almond butter give me a yell.

Day One
Breakfast: Water first thing out of bed; two tablespoons of honey; muesli (including organic gluten-free rolled oats, cranberries, raisins, pumpkin or sunflower seeds and almonds)
Mid-morning snack (if needed): Gluten-free bread or crackers with avocado and tuna
Lunch: Mixed-greens salad, gluten-free pasta primavera (including rice pasta, summer squash, courgettes, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes and optional vegan cheese)
Mid-afternoon snack: Apple with cashew butter; melon
Dinner: Kale caesar salad (kale, fennel, quinoa and pine nuts) plus dressing (including anchovies or sardines); minestrone soup; salmon fillets (skin on) with roasted tomatoes and marinade
Day Two
Breakfast: Water first thing out of bed; two tablespoons of honey; banana with cashew butter; fruit
Mid-morning snack (if needed): Gluten-free toast with almond butter and honey
Lunch: Mixed-greens salad, spicy soba noodle salad (including gluten-free soba noodles, red bell pepper, rocket, cashews and basil leaves, plus spicy vinaigrette)
Mid-afternoon snack: Fruit and nut bar; fruit
Dinner: Tuna niçoise salad (green beans, cannellini beans, rocket, tuna, red pepper, tomatoes and canned chickpeas), tomato soup, roasted tomatoes
Day three
Breakfast: Water first thing out of bed; two tablespoons of honey; gluten-free oats with cashew butter and bananas; fruit
Mid-morning snack (if needed): Home-made hummus (including chickpeas and gluten-free soy sauce) with apples/crudités
Lunch: Mixed-greens salad, gluten-free pasta with power pesto (including rice pasta, walnuts and basil leaves)
Mid-afternoon snack: Avocado with gluten-free crackers; fruit
Dinner: Fresh mixed-greens salad with avocado and homemade dressing; carrot and ginger soup; whole lemon-roasted chicken

So there you have it good vegetables, a dose of fruit, wholesome chicken and fish. So the gluten free bread and pastas, nut butters, and other specialty foods will break the bank, especially from a kosher perspective, but perhaps we can start with some small meal substitution to slowly build up to this level of dedicated nutrition. Also I am conflicted on the no dairy part, it is my belief that everyone must cater to their body and blood type; dairy works for some, doesn't work for others. Same with gluten.

There will be more structured planning of nutrition goals later but Novak is a great role model to aspire to.

In the Beginning...

They say all beginnings have an end, our end has a beginning. We started with the end in mind and we definately had a beginning sometime somewhere.
But now it's time to notch it up, and this website hopes to assist.

Keep tuned and subscribe for schedules, tips, events and hopefully sponsors and freebies one day.

Yours truly,

Dov