The benefits of the Mediterranean diet for the endurance of padel players .

Food is a key factor in well-being. In this sense, when performing physical activities such as playing padel, our body expends more energy and increases its need for nutrients. Since our reserves are limited, it is important for athletes to maintain a varied and balanced diet.

In general, it is important for padel players not to exclude any food groups and to organise their diet and daily routine properly. Thus, planning their diet and lifestyle allows them to improve their performance.

However, a study conducted by researchers at Saint Louis University (USA) and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that the Mediterranean diet can help athletes improve their performance in weight training within four days.

What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is a diet that is complemented by physical exercise and the climate of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. In terms of food, it is based on ingredients from local agriculture in countries with a Mediterranean climate, mainly in Spain and Italy, and has numerous health benefits.

The Western diet is characterised by low consumption of fruit, vegetables and unrefined oils and high consumption of trans and saturated fats, refined sugars, dairy products, highly processed vegetable oils, sodium and processed foods. For its part, the Mediterranean diet includes whole fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil and whole grains. It also excludes red and processed meats, dairy products, trans and saturated fats, and refined sugars.

Fresh fruit is an unrivalled source of vitamins and minerals. The best way to consume them is raw, in order to benefit from all their nutrients. Oranges, for example, are a fruit found throughout the Mediterranean. When eaten fresh, they provide a high intake of vitamins (A, C and B1). Provitamin A stimulates immune function, vitamin C helps form collagen and tissue, and vitamin B1 regulates energy synthesis. It also contains calcium and potassium.

Another highly recommended product is olive oil, which, thanks to its oleic acid and vegetable fats, reduces the risk of clogged arteries. It also has a high content of carotenoids and vitamin E. The Mediterranean diet promotes its consumption, especially over butter.

What were the results?
Seven women and four men were included in the study. The participants ran five kilometres twice on a treadmill, once four days after following a Mediterranean diet and once after four days on a Western diet.

The researchers found that those who followed the Mediterranean diet ran 6% faster. ‘This study shows that a diet that is known to be good for your health is also good for exercise and playing padel,’ the experts concluded.

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