How Combat Sports Nutrition Can Improve Your Performance

When you’re grappling with or blocking blows from an opponent, the last thing you want is to run out of energy. 

Food is fuel, and it’s essential that combat sport athletes have a nutritious diet that allows them to perform at their peak and sustain performance throughout a fight. 

From optimal body composition to well-timed acute weight loss strategies to “make weight”, nutrition plays a key role in the training of a combat sports athlete. 

In this article we’ll discuss the diverse range of benefits nutrition can have for combat sports athletes and how these can be achieved. 

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Advice on how to improve nutrition

There are some core fundamentals for all athletes to focus on to optimise their nutrition. This isn’t just for performance and recovery but also for general health. 

The first priority is developing a routine. Your routine is your “blueprint” for health and, without one, you’re more likely to have inadequate dietary intake. (1) 

You want to develop a routine with a frequent intake of high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy dietary fat sources. Adhering to a traditional meal pattern of breakfast, lunch and dinner may not be best strategy for athletes wanting to support performance and recovery, given the influence nutrition timing can have on progress and recovery (e.g., protein distribution and optimal muscle protein synthesis). (2) 

Generally speaking, combat sports athletes want plenty of carbs to fuel their training, in addition to plenty of protein and healthy fats. (3) Athletes should also consume plenty of plant-based foods and whole grains for a healthy fibre intake as well as plenty of water to stay properly hydrated. (4) 

How combat sports nutrition can improve your performance  

While nutrition plays a key role in the health and recovery of combat sports athletes, it can also have a significant impact on performance. 

Here are some practical nutrition tips to take on board in and around training to help take your performance to a whole new level. 

Tip one - Prioritise your protein 

When it comes to performance, there are few diet-related factors as important as your protein intake.  

Consuming enough protein is critically important for muscle repair and adaptation.5 This allows your muscles to respond to training so you can get stronger and perform better.   

Athletes should aim to consume between 1.4-2g of protein per kg of body weight a day for optimal recovery and performance.5 To optimise muscle protein synthesis, it's recommended that you evenly distribute protein across meals eaten every three to four hours. 

Having a high-quality source of protein before or after training can help improve recovery and fuel adaptation. (5) Whey protein (or a vegan alternative) powder would be a perfect choice here as it's easily digestible and is absorbed more quickly than other protein sources. (6) Greek yoghurt, plain cow’s milk or lean meat in a wrap or bagel are all good high-quality protein sources. 

Vegans and plant-based eaters should consider combining multiple plant-based protein sources. Plant sources of protein are sometimes described as “low-quality”, simply because they tend to lack all the essential amino acids. By combining multiple sources, you can solve this issue.  

A meal of beans and rice would be one example, and options like tofu and other soy-based products are considered complete proteins, so are great after a workout. 

Tip 2 - Carb up to compete 

Carbs are your best friend when it comes to feeling fuelled and ready to fight. They are the body’s primary source of energy, and precise carb timing can make a big difference to your performance. 

For example, a smaller meal of mostly readily available carbohydrates (such as a banana, dried fruit or sweets) within 60 minutes of exercise may help improve performance, delay fatigue and enhance alertness, all key factors in combat sports success. (2) 

Tip 3 - Hydrate to dominate 

Hydration is the process of replenishing the body's fluids. These fluids help to transport nutrients around the body, regulate body temperature, and protect our organs. When we are dehydrated, our bodies cannot function as well as they should. We may experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps. (7) 

For athletes, hydration is essential for peak performance. In combat sports, it’s arguably even more important given the intensity of bouts, where there is little opportunity to replenish lost fluids. 

Therefore, you need to stay on top of hydration. One simple way of monitoring your hydration status is through urine colour. Your urine should ideally be clear to straw yellow in colour. If it’s darker than that, you need to increase your fluid intake. 

A practical recommendation is to aim for 300-500ml per hour. Double this during exercise and consume even more during intense exercise and in hot weather. 

While it's important to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to stay properly hydrated, you’ll also need to consume enough electrolytes.  

Electrolytes are minerals that help conduct electricity in the body and are essential for proper hydration. They also play a role in muscle contraction and nerve function. That’s why electrolytes are so important for athletes, who lose them through sweat during exercise.  

Common electrolytes include sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. You can supplement with electrolytes or get electrolytes from fluids like sports drinks or coconut water, or from foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, and avocados. 

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