In preparation for Pro Day, elite football players recently gathered on the fields of North Dakota to train, connect, and perfect their bodies for the rigors of the sport. It was there that former Bison offensive lineman Austin Kuhnert adopted the keto diet2, and a slimmer version of himself. For someone in Austin’s position, making the transition from being the ‘guy who goes out and hits people’ to the ‘guy who keeps up during training’ meant fine-tuning his diet and his routine, with keto playing key role in his approach to nutrition.
Are the elite players in sports using a disciplined diet to attain a new level of endurance and excellence? What if choosing a high-fat, low-carb diet is the new form of athletic devotion? It might just be. As the popularity of the keto diet increases, so do the number of athletes who swear by the physical and mental benefits of the switch.
Going Keto
It’s been nearly three years since The Wall Street Journal published an article1 highlighting the use of the keto diet by NFL players, while also questioning the science behind the diet. Since then, the keto diet has continued to rise in popularity among athletes (and those of us without athletic ability). Although it continues to spark debate regarding the long-term effects of a low-carb diet, it is increasing endurance and training potential for those willing (and determined) to make the change.
The keto diet has been hailed by those seeking long-term and short-term weight loss solutions as well as by those who want to boost energy and endurance for athletic training. It has become particularly popular among football players and athletes who specialize in prolonged physical activity.
Fine-Tune the Mind
While many athletes choose a Keto diet for the physical side-effects, there is more to the choice than simple weight-loss. Tyson Fury, former heavyweight world boxing champion, chose the keto diet as the first step toward making a comeback. When asked about the benefits, Fury’s nutritionist, Greg Marriott noted that “a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter.”
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
- Managing Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms - January 16, 2019
- I Miss Potatoes: Please Help - December 31, 2018
- Is Keto the New (Legal) Performance Enhancer? - May 18, 2018
