Golf Nutrition On And Off The Course

For best competition performance on the golf course, maintaining proper nutrition is very important. There's no one specific food or diet that will fit every golfer's needs. A golfer's nutrition plan should be individualized to meet the needs of training and competition or recreational play. Since carbohydrates are the primary fuel for performance related activities, they should be the primary consideration of a golfer's diet.

Listed below is a breakdown of the amounts of food sources a golfer should have to maintain optimal performance on the course.

? 20-30% of daily calories from proteins.

? 20-25% of daily calories from fats.

? 50-60% of daily calories from carbohydrates.

These ranges leave you some room to create the ratio that works best for you. Here are some common ratios. They are listed in the order of carbohydrates, protein, then fat: 50-30-20, 55-25-20, 60-20-20. Each of these combinations promotes balance, while favoring carbohydrates to promote better energy. Whether eating for weight loss or to improve performance, here are 3 rules to follow which will guide you to a greater level of success.

1. Eat 5 to 6 small meals throughout the day.

2. Eat every couple of hours to increase your metabolism and keep energy levels constant.

3. Eat well balanced meals containing some carbohydrates, proteins and fat.

Other healthy eating tips include drinking plenty of water, taking a daily multi vitamin/mineral, limiting or eliminating alcohol from your diet and choosing whole, unrefined grain products over highly processed options. Sweat losses may be considerable especially when tournaments are played in hot and humid conditions. While you can always pick up drinks or snacks on the course, they may be at lengthy intervals and not allow sufficient opportunity for fluid replacement during a round.

Since players will usually miss a meal while playing a round, they may be faced with no carbohydrate intake for five or six hours. Combined with exercise and nervous stress, this situation may cause a drop in blood-sugar levels in susceptible individuals affecting brain function and skill. Packing a small snack in your golf bag will help to prevent this problem.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.

---

Valuable Tips For Golf

We learn a lot from just watching and observing the... Read More

Which Golf Training Aids Improve Your Game?

When you think of golf training aids, a number of... Read More

What Does Annika Know About Exercise That You Don?t?

Think of your golf game. Visualize connecting with your drive... Read More

Improve Your Golf Swing Fundamentals And Watch Your Game Transform

Most golfers are aware that by focusing on the golf... Read More

Finish Your Round of Golf with Birdies

All the major tournaments, especially the U.S. Open and the... Read More

Golf Driving Tip That Will Add Yards Quickly

A golf driving tip that can make the difference between... Read More

10 Ways to Increase Your Energy Instantly with a Golf Performance Diet

A golf conditioning program should always be accompanied by a... Read More

Are You Wearing the Right Golf Shoes When You Golf?

For those of you that golf you know that golf... Read More

Women Golfers Set New Standards For The LPGA

It used to be unusual to turn on the television... Read More

Golf Practice Equipment Can Pave The Way For Better Golf

There is a great deal of equipment on the market... Read More

Benefits of A Golf Fitness Stretch Trainer

Hardly any professional worth his name today will dare approach... Read More

How Playing Short will Save You Strokes

It's a pretty simple tip really, but it will help... Read More

Driving the Distance with Quality Golf Equipment

Possibly the most important pieces of golf equipment are your... Read More

If Youve Hit Your Golf Driver Perfectly Once, You Can Do It Every Time

Picture yourself standing on the tee box of your favorite... Read More

Why Tiger Woods Golf Swing Technique Is So Effective

Golf sensation Tiger Woods' golf swing technique has been the... Read More

Sports Psychology for Golfers: 4 Tips for Beating the Yips

When players labels themselves as having the putting yips, they... Read More

Golf Information Overload?

You've come home from work dead tired. You grab the... Read More

How To Achieve The Golf Club Swing Speed You Desire

The golf club swing speed is what will determine your... Read More

Golf Club Swing Weights

A golf club's swing weight helps the player to be... Read More

Improving Your Golf Balance

The need for balance for golf just sounds so simple... Read More

Appreciating Your Core Golf Strength Will Improve Your Game

The core golf strength, unknown to many enthusiasts of the... Read More

Play Better Longer: Reducing Golf Related Injury

On the surface golf may look to be a slow... Read More

The One Lever Golf Swing Involves Chipping And Putting

The one lever golf swing involves chipping and putting. To... Read More

4 Essential Elements of Golf Fitness

Are you ready to take your golf game to a... Read More

What Do Trees Have to Do With Golf?

On our way back from a recent round of golf,... Read More

Take Your Eyes Off that Ball!

O.k., so you love golf. I know, I know. Me... Read More

Why A Modern Golf Training System Is So Effective

Gone are the days when a golf training system mainly... Read More

An Effective Golf Swing Exercise

There are many types of effective golf swing exercises. Golf... Read More

How A Golf Exercise DVD Can Save You Time And Improve Your Game

Using a golf exercise dvd is a great alternative to... Read More

Fitness For Golf Is The Key To Rejuvenating Your Golf Game

Fitness for golf is prevalent at every level. You hear... Read More

Achieving The Perfect Golf Swing Drill

The perfect golf swing drill is a joy to behold.... Read More

How A Golf Trainer Can Take Your Game To The Next Level

Having a golf trainer in your corner to give you... Read More

Confusion Feeds the Golf Industry

The policeman drops his paycheck on the kitchen table so... Read More