Nutrition and athletic performance The best training ensures the
maximum physical output with the least exploitation of the
body's resources. To achieve this it is important for the body
to receive adequate nourishment so as to cooperate efficiently
without physiological damage. To obtain satisfactory
performance, the diet is an essential factor, not only from the
viewpoint of nutrition, but also from the functional and
specific viewpoint depending on the type of sport practiced and
the type of effort that has to be supported. The proper fuel for
every engine, in other words. There is no magic formula for
everyone. Obviously, the ideal diet for an athlete is the one
that satisfies the palate and at the same time ensures a
complete variety of nutrients and an adequate quantity of
liquids, but some foods more than others satisfy these
requisites: - A balanced diet for an athlete should consist of
60 per cent carbohydrates, preferably complex (the main source
of energy for the muscles comes from carbohydrates, a