Five dietary goals for performance and health
Some basic goals:
- Sufficient protein to support muscle development
- Adequate carbohydrates to fuel the body during a challenging workout
- Low saturated fat to reduce the risk of heart disease
- High fiber to decrease the risk of heart disease
- Enough calories to maintain weight, but not so many as to cause weight gain
The aspect I'm most focused on right now is lowering my intake of saturated fat. I generally find it easy to consume enough protein, fuel my workouts, and maintain a balanced calorie intake. However, I am concerned about the risk of heart disease, given that my current diet is relatively high in saturated fat.
If I can find a way to maintain my current performance levels while reducing saturated fat—and potentially decreasing my risk of heart disease—I would be eager to pursue that approach.