Protein Needs of an Athlete

Nutrition is important for sports performance for young athletes to attain proper growth and perform optimally in sports (Purcell, 2013). There is a growing interest in foods with a functional benefit in sports performance and in products and foods which can enhance recovery post-­exercise and therefore support a faster return to training. Dietary strategies, which enhance recovery from the negative effects of exercise, can help promote more effective physiological adaptations, muscle reconditioning post-­exercise and enable a faster return to training (Reid, 2013).