'La nutrigenética podrá mejorar el rendimiento de los deportistas y su forma de competir en el futuro'
'Nutrigenetics will be able to improve athletes' performance and how they compete in the future'
Alfredo Martínez, Full Professor of Nutrition at the University of Navarra, has directed a summer course on nutrition and sport at the UPV.
According to Alfredo Martínez, Full Professor of Nutrition at the University of Navarra, in the future nutrigenetics -nutrition based on our genes- "will improve the performance of athletes and change the way they compete, since they will be able to predict their best moment of form and recover more easily thanks to their diet". This was stated by researcher and professor of Nutrition during the summer course "Nutrition, functional foods and physical activity in the promotion of health", given at the University of the Basque Country (UPV).
The expert pointed out that a good combination of sport and nutrition maintains health, increases performance and accelerates recovery. "However, not all activities are the same, have the same intensity, duration or frequency. Individuals also differ, in age, sex, previous nutritional status, etc. That is why there are many aspects that must be considered for proper planning," he clarified, "including heredity Genetics".
A varied "fuel" for sports
Regarding the most convenient foods to practice sports, he confirmed that there is consensus on the importance of carbohydrates as the primary energy source : "Although some people think that glycogen levels do not influence sports results, in many disciplines they do. A marathon runner, for example, uses up his or her glycogen stores first, before using any other fuel mix".
In the case of proteins, the Full Professor of Nutrition of the University of Navarra pointed out that their value is complemented by training. "For example, Rafael Nadal has a much more developed left arm -he is left-handed-, but he takes proteins for both arms. What happens is that he takes a good supply of proteins and the exercise - the hormesis - makes them serve to increase the strength of the limb he uses most".
"Lipids," concluded the expert, "are essential for life and for sport, due to their regulatory, structural and energetic functions. To say that fat only serves as energy source for intense and prolonged exercise or with low glycogen levels is therefore false, since we use it at all times within the mix of nutrients that serve as fuel".
The course, held at the University of the Basque Country, was organized by Chair Tomás Pascual Sanz-University of Navarra.