An Ideal Diet For Teenagers In Sports

An Ideal Diet For Teenagers In Sports

FeaturesDue to the everchanging muscle and bone structure of a teenager, the most important aspect of her diet needs to be nutrients. Basic nutrients like iron and calcium that assist with natural growth need to be met regardless of the activity level of the teen. Beyond the basics, teens who play sports need to fuel their bodies with carbohydrates to support the active lifestyle. When the body is involved in longlasting vigorous exercise, it switches into cardio mode, which means that up to 85 percent of the calories it burns for fuel are carbs, with the remaining 15 percent coming from fat.

SizeA teen's diet will vary in size depending on the age, sex and level of physical intensity. In general, the USDA recommends that active boys get as much as 33 percent more calories than active girls. Active girls top out at a recommended intake of 2,400 calories, while boys top out at 3,200. Early teens need significantly less calories because their bodies and muscle structure have more than likely not yet hit puberty. In fact, a 13yearold has the same calorie recommendations as a 9yearold.

ConsiderationsSome sports, such as soccer or basketball, require a high amount of constant energy spread out over several hours. Other sports, such as football or baseball, require short bursts of intense energy, followed by several long break periods. Diets should reflect the teen's sport of choice, and an appropriate amount of carbohydrates should be eaten to ensure that the teen will have enough energy to compete. Football players will often need higher amounts of protein over carbohydrates due to the need for maximum muscle mass. Basketball players need to concentrate on lean muscle while fueling their bodies with a high amount of carbohydrates. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web sitemany of the advertisements are served by third party advertising companies.