Times Of Swaziland: ‘AVOID ALCOHOL UNDER LOCKDOWN’ – SIHLANGU NUTRITIONIST

‘AVOID ALCOHOL UNDER LOCKDOWN’ – SIHLANGU NUTRITIONIST
================================================================================
BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 14/04/2020 07:35:00


MBABANE – The national team, Sihlangu Nutritionist Mfundo Mabuza believes the
future of athlete including football players lies on their diet under the
COVID-19 lockdown.
Mabuza who has been with Sihlangu since 2017 said athletes total health and
fitness is 20 percent exercise and 80 percent diet. He said the life of an
athlete now despite which sports you playing are exercising and eating well to
perform well when action resumes.
The coronavirus has seen the shutdown of sports in the world and lockdown in
majority of countries including Eswatini, neighbouring country South Africa and
European countries. Mabuza said athletes must make sure that they stay ready to
bounce back once the pandemic is over.
He said some of the tips for athletes is not to indulge in alcohol during the
lockdown and also avoid eating a lot of junk or fast foods instead they must eat
variety of fruits to use as snack when they feel like binge eating.
“They must eat lot of carbohydrates - less starch because there is reduced
physical activity than normal.
They must at all costs avoid drinking especially as majority are not working and
they are under lockdown and the temptation is high but if they want to bounce
back physical fit, they must not drink alcohol.
advice
I’d strongly advice players to use the best out of this period to train more
and build more muscles with high protein diets.
That high protein can help even those who were/ are nursing injuries for speedy
recovery. Hydration, players should still keep well hydrated because they are
training still. They must avoid cold water because the virus loves cold
environments,” he said.
Mabuza urged athletes eat a wide variety of fruits and veggies to boost their
immune system as this will not give the virus a chance when they have strong
immune systems.
“The season was stopped at its pick and this greatly affected the football
players and it is not going to be easy when they return back to action. This
also applies to the other sporting codes athletes. What you are eating now under
the lockdown will determine your future in terms of performance. The players
should be training to avoid starting afresh in terms of the fitness they had
acquired the whole season. This goes well with both food and exercise,” he
said.