Dairy key to athletes diet and nutrition say experts
Elite athletes joined nutrition experts to discuss the key role of dairy in a sports diet.
Starting from left: Mark Beaumont, Sandy Wilkie, Judith Bryans, Goldie Sayers, Dan Norton, Stuart Phillips
Three time Olympian Goldie Sayers and HSBC Sevens World Series star Dan Norton were among the guest speakers of The Dairy Council’s Evening of Sport and Dairy in London.
The evening featured a presentation from Professor Stuart M. Phillips from McMaster University, Canada, on the role of milk as a sports recovery product while Great Britain Rowing Team Nutritionist Wendy Martinson OBE explained how to incorporate dairy into the diets of athletes.
Professor Stuart M. Phillips, a faculty member of the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University, said: “In the marketplace of sport recovery products there are a bewildering array of products, but few compare to milk as the simplest, most effective, and nourishing way to regenerate an athlete!”
Ms Martinson added: “We have been using milk for athletes for years and now we have the evidence to back this up. Milk and dairy products such as yogurt and smoothies are great for muscle adaptation, bone health, body composition, plus it tastes good! Just during the training for London 2012 our 62 Team GB athletes went threw 33kg Greek yogurt and 500 milk shakes in three weeks”
The audience also heard from top athletes Goldie Sayers and Dan Norton who shared their views on the importance of dairy in an athlete’s diet. The athletes, who are currently getting ready to compete in the Commonwealth Games this summer, shared their tips on how to best prepare your body to excel in sports, beat records and win medals.
Goldie Sayers said: “Preparing for an event requires careful planning, eating well, resting well and training hard. Many forms of protein, such as a glass of milk, help to replete my energy levels. It is also a great way to improve muscle recovery.”
Dan Norton said: “I consume many forms of protein and carbohydrates to help with my training and performance. Studies have shown that carbohydrates consumed during sport provides additional fuel and increases endurance capacity and products such as milk are fantastic at giving that to me.”
The evening was an opportunity to launch The Dairy Council Sports Nutrition Award, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at providing sport nutritionist professionals and students the chance to showcase their knowledge and understanding of dairy foods as part of a healthy balanced diet or in sports nutrition.
Chairman of The Dairy Council Sandy Wilkie said: “I am proud to be launching this Award today. I hope that this initiative will encourage sport nutritionist professionals and students to share their knowledge about the beneficial effects of dairy products when used for sports. Not only does dairy offer a nutrient-dense choice for athletes as part of their routine diet, it is also useful for nutrition recovery, specifically in muscle-building and repair, and hydration.”
