Can What You Eat Improve Your Tennis Game?
Winning Tennis Nutrition is a must read book for all tennis players who want to play better and win more.
By: Jodie Shield, MED, RDN
Fellow tennis players: How would you like to raise your game to the next USTA level without taking another cardio tennis drill or private lesson? Believe it or not, you can hit faster servers, rip your forehand cross-court, and improve your mental toughness by learning how to eat like a professional. Tennis greats know that what you eat and drink before, during and after a tennis match can and will affect how you play.
- Once Novak Djokovic discovered he was gluten sensitive, he changed his diet, which he feels catapulted him to achieve his number one ranking.
- Both Marina Navratilova and Venus Williams attribute their vegetarian life styles to their on-court success.
- After Andy Murray lost weight and boosted his fitness level, he went on to win his first US Open Grand Slam title in 2012.
While each of these professional players has taken a different dietary approach, they all have one thing in common: finding the right nutrient balance. Tennis players need to vary the protein, carbohydrate, and fat content of the foods they eat to gain the competitive edge, to play better and win more. How do you do this? Have I got a book for you!
Winning Tennis Nutrition: Eat Right, Play Better, Win More
Author: Grace Lee, MS, RDN
Publisher: iUniverse 2016; Paperback $22.95, Kindle $7.99
Claims: The author, an avid tennis player and longtime sports nutritionist, provides the latest nutrition research partnered with winning eating and hydration strategies to help readers supercharge their tennis game.
Synopsis: The book covers a variety of topics to help players on all aspects of their diet. The chapters include: a basic nutrition overview, supplement guidelines, recommendations for nutrient timing for optimal tennis performance, weight management strategies, hydration and fluid requirements, bag check tips for packing snacks, and so much more. My personal favorite is a section on what to eat if you have a match early in the morning or at noon (hello CITA teammates!). There is also a chapter dedicated to helping children and teens that need to maximize their eating for growth and performance.
Pros and Cons: While the book can get a little technical at times, it gives the reader an in depth view on all aspects of sports nutrition and how it impacts tennis players. Also, it’s fun to read because the author sprinkles in fun quotes from actual players, coaches, and tennis training camps such as the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis.
Bottom Line: A must read for tennis players of all levels – professional and recreational – coaches, and parents.
RDN Score (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★
Note: If you need some quick and easy recipe ideas, download my FREE app Eat Healthy Homemade Meals available at iTunes and Google Play.
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Editor-in-Chief
Jodie Shield, MEd, RDN