
Main Takeaways
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Fruits and veggies should be the top priority in your foundational nutritional game plan. They provide key vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants.
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All of the above help combat stress — athletes stress their bodies by training, competing and traveling — and maximize performance.
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Color matters! The more variety you can get on your plate, the better. Dark, leafy greens promote healthy musculature; reds — berries, cherries, peppers and such — are for circulation; yellows, such as pineapple, help improve brain function; and orange aids tissue recovery.
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Don’t forget your whites! Mushrooms, garlic, the inside of that bright red or green apple … you want a strong immune system, right?
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Fruits and veggies consumed in their natural form are best. Canned, in their own juice, is your second-best option. Third, drinking their juices.