Tiger Brands Corporate Nutritionist and Eat Well Live Well Ambassador Arthur Ramoroka. Photo: Razor

Tiger Brands Corporate Nutritionist and Eat Well Live Well Ambassador Arthur Ramoroka. Photo: Razor

EXCLUSIVE: Q & A with nutritionist Arthur Ramoroka

Nutrition is a very important part in all the sporting codes across the world, and athletes are always encouraged to look after their bodies.

Tiger Brands Corporate Nutritionist and Eat Well Live Well Ambassador Arthur Ramoroka. Photo: Razor

Tiger Brands Corporate Nutritionist and Eat Well Live Well Ambassador Arthur Ramoroka. Photo: Razor

Nutrition is a very important part in all the sporting codes across the world, and athletes are always encouraged to look after their bodies.

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And for that reason, The South African website journalist Ernest Makhaya had a chat with Tiger Brands Corporate Nutritionist and Eat Well Live Well Ambassador Arthur Ramoroka.

The purpose of the interview was to find out more from Ramoroka, as an expert, in order to help both amateur and professional athletes understand the importance of nutrition and diet.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NUTRITIONIST ARTHUR RAMOROKA

Q: Why are nutrition and diet so important at a semi and professional levels and not necessarily at an amateur level?

A: Consuming the right balance of food and drink is important for everyone, but sports professionals should be aware that it can also affect their overall performance. Sports athletes, for example, may require more kilojoules than the average person, and people participating in strenuous sporting activities may need to increase their protein intake to gain muscle mass and strength. Nutrition in sports should prioritise fuelling, hydration, and recovery. Fuelling is the process of providing food to the body to improve strength and performance while optimum hydration helps to prevent dehydration and tiredness while improving muscle performance. Lastly, recovery helps in body recovery after sports.

Q: What are the benefits of a balanced nutrition and diet on semi and professional athletes?

A: Fuelling your body with the right foods and drinks that provide important nutrients particularly carbohydrates, protein, and fats, is critical for professional athletic performance. A well-balanced diet rich in quality carbohydrates, protein, and fats from a variety of food groups is essential. Carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel used by working muscles, so getting enough of them is critical for avoiding muscle tiredness or fatigue. You should always aim to include whole grain or high fibre carbohydrates in your meal such as brown bread, brown rice, high fibre pasta. While it is important to monitor your fat intake, you should not eliminate them entirely from your diet. Fats contain fatty acids that can be used as an energy source, so you should focus quality of fats rather than eliminating them from your diet. Good quality fats sources include, avocado, plant oils, fatty fish. Protein can be used as an energy source and is necessary for the formation of new muscle tissue. If you are taking part in strenuous training, your body will require additional protein. Quality protein sources include, lean minced meat, chicken breast, lean steak.

Nutritionist Arthur Ramoroka. Photo: Razor

Q: Is there something called an overdose of nutrition, and if there is, what is the impact of it on sports athletes?

A: Some sports athletes may want to consider taking nutritional supplements to support their diet and overall performance. While nutrients are necessary for good health and athletes’ performance, you only need a certain amount of them, and the food you eat should provide adequate amounts to help with bodily functions. While it is almost impossible to overconsume vitamins and minerals through food, you can overconsume some vitamins and minerals, for example, if you take large doses of vitamins and minerals for long periods of time.

Q: Some players take supplements that are banned in their respective sporting codes without knowing and end up being banned. How important is it for athletes to know what they take?

A: Before taking any kind of supplement, athletes should make sure their diet is healthy, balanced, and appropriate for their sport. Those who decide to take additional nutrients in supplement format should always consult an accredited sports nutrition specialist. They will be able to determine your suitability for a specific supplement that is approved for use.