Find Pasta Recipes That You Enjoy

Do you always wonder how eating right can help you improve as an athlete?

Michael Phelps is not human. He is not a human being. If you watched the Olympics this past summer, you probably heard about his preposterous 12,000 calorie a day diet. He eats pounds and pounds of pasta on a daily basis. One may ask if he really needs all that energy. In fact, he does, if he did not eat enough calories, he loses weight. He actually needs to eat enough in order for his body to stay at its peak levels. Pasta is a great source of energy because it is a complex carbohydrate. I have always loved pasta and therefore most of my cookbook contains tons of pasta recipes.

Complex carbohydrates are usually whole grain foods, vegetables, and fruits. They are comprise of three types of dietary fiber: cellulose, hemicellulose, and gums, also known as starches. It is true starchy food like bread and pasta are high in calories, but they are not actually. Starchy foods provide ~four calories per gram compare to nine calories per gram in fat. This is why, many researchers have proven pasta recipes are included in some of the best athletes daily diet regime. Athletes usually eat nutritionally enhanced pasta, such as whole eat, whole grain, high fiber pasta, and pasta with omega-3. You can actually find these at your local grocery store.

As a regular consumer, my goal is to discover not only economical feasible food, but healthy as well. And being avid about pasta recipes, it is comforting to know pasta is an excellent source for carbohydrates. Keep in mind; there is a HUGE difference when someone is talking about simple carbohydrates and high glycemic index.

I consider pasta meals actually a healthy meal because studies have proven carbohydrates such as pasta is vital to an athlete's diet. Carbs is like fuel for the body. I am not going to get into the specifics on how it works, but our body breaks down what we eat, stores as glycogen in our muslces. Athletes' jobs are to store as much glycogen in their bodies so they can perform at their best. Even after you exercise, eating protein is very important in replenishing the glycogen you lost during heavy activity.

Enough with the facts, here are my eating diet. Pasta, pasta, pasta, and more pasta. Eat pasta before you run, the carbs you are consuming are very helpful. Also, eat after heavy activity (running, lifting, etc), and do not forget to rehydrate yourself. By the time you are feeling thirsty, too late, you are already dehydrated.

However, do not go looking at all the pasta recipes and stuff yourself with enormous portions of pasta everyday. Proper nutrition is VERY important to athletes. In fact, too much pasta can actually hurt your body. Make sure you are consuming carbs, not fat. Eating pasta with melted butter, excessive pasta sauce is not an athlete's best friend. In addition, the timing of eating is very crucial. If you eat a giant meal before competition, you might as well wave the white flag. A more appropriate strategy is a healthy amount at breakfast or lunch. Eating pasta at earlier meals gives your body plenty of time for the food to process through your body system.

All in all, take care of your body by choosing carefully what you put in your mouths. And again, athlete's best friend's are pasta recipes!