Diet, taken with a pinch of salt and a little variety
MANY thanks for the thought- provoking article.
It has been well documented in the past decade or so that high-protein diets can dramatically increase weightloss; a point not lost on celebrities and common beach-goers alike, as well as those who would market such reductionist science for their own commercial gain.
Specialised diets overlook the simple fact that good health is best supported by a varied and well-rounded eating practise. This would certainly contain reasonable levels of carbohydrates including fruit and grains; not least rice that has for centuries for med the basis of good nutrition for the majority of mankind.
Further more, for many people “protein” simply translates as “meat”, meaning they are likely to indulge in more than is beneficial to the body. Meat is slow to digest in even the healthiest of systems, and makes for a particularly poor breakfast option as the body is not fully fired up. Throw into the mix poor quality, highly refined pseudo-foods such as bacon, and the average “weekend warrior” in training is likely to assume that biltong and fried eggs are the diet of champions, rather than the cholesterol increasing concern raised in your article.
Mr Noakes is rightly acclaimed in this country and beyond as a pioneer in sport science. Society, however, has the unfortunate habits of either taking good advice too literally, or manipulating it to better suit their personal preferences.
It can be dangerous then to advise too strongly on any one subject, especially when addressing such large audiences as the professor is able to command. It’s all very well to recommend to those who read The Lore of Running that they tear out everything he wrote on diet, but who is to say he may not have another epiphany in the future and confuse the masses further?
Eating is simple. Whole foods, served close to their natural state, are generally healthy when eaten in moderation. And variety, as they say, is the spice of life.
Advocating any one idea too strongly is shortsighted and potentially hazardous when addressed to an audience that is motivated and inspired to better themselves. Ultimately the individual must discer n what makes them feel good. Unfortunately in our results-driven world this is often not the case.
The aspiring athlete might do well to take Mr Noakes protein advice with a large pinch of salt.
Tom Sheehy