TRAIL

Protein Promises

A big investment, with implications for your performance and health. Nutritionist Lucy Etherton demystifies protein supplements.

A triathlete client had been training hard: regularly pulling two sessions a day on multiple days a week. She came to me seeking advice about how to boost her afternoon performance. She found that her energy levels and splits always went rapidly downhill in the afternoon sessions.

She generally ate well, using sports drinks and gels only during her longer sessions, otherwise focusing entirely on a wholefood-based balanced diet, with a good dietary intake of carbs, fats and protein.

Normally it is entirely possible to get sufficient protein from diet alone. However, those exercising multiple times a day, as well as young athletes, may need to more carefully monitor their intake.

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Athletes have approximately double the protein requirement of non-athletes, equating to around 1.5g of protein per kilogram of body

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