Proper diet must for RP athletes

Just like talent and training, diet plays a vital part to the athletes’ success.

This is why the Philippine contingent to the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games beginning this week, apart from the coaches and trainers, is being supported by a team of nutritional experts.

"Everyone going to the SEA Games has to pass our department," said Dr. Sanirose Orbeta, head of the Sports Nutrition Unit of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine. "We set nutritional standards and conduct dietary assessment tests to improve the athletes’ eating habits."

Orbeta, also the sports nutrition consultant to the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, asserts that without the right diet, even the best workouts cannot help one’s chances of winning a competition.

"The athlete who does not follow the rules for good nutrition is at a marked disadvantage. He will not perform well," said Orbeta, who bared that meal plans differ among athletes as events require varying forms and degrees of activity.

According to Orbeta, noted for restructuring boxer Gerry Peñalosa’s diet in 1998 that has now produced wonders for the former world champion, endurance sports call for a higher amount of carbohydrates, bodybuilders compete on high protein diet and weightlifters require larger portions of protein sources. In fact, the SEAG Filipino bets have received ample supply of Nestle Corn Flakes, Almond Clusters and Honey Gold to help sustain them during training.