Issue 17 - V8 Supercars

Nutrition E-Bites                    Edition 17                        November 2009

V8 Supercars

Did you know that supercar drivers need to pay attention to nutrition? While some people may sit back and watch a bunch of (most often) men driving around a track as a bit of fun, V8 Supercar racing is no longer a past-time for people with an abundance of money. It is a multi-million dollar series demanding physical and mental fitness similar to that of many Olympic athletes. This perpetually evolving sport is always pushing the limits of technology and engineering and is also becoming increasingly demanding on the drivers. So the question is: what is fuelling the driver? 

Cabin temperatures can soar up to 50°C or above, and drivers lose an average of 3% of their body weight in sweat – that’s about 2kg for a 60kg driver – which puts hydration on pole position!

 SDA has re-launched the V8 supercars fact sheet and is a great resource for anyone involved in the sport. Click here to access the new fact sheet now available online.

Put high performance fuel in your tank

Mild Beef Curry

Spray a large pan with oil and heat. Cook the meat over medium heat in 2 batches for 2-3 minutes or until well browned. Set aside. Spray a little more oil into the pan, add the onion and cook for 3 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, ginger and curry powder and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Gradually add the stock, stirring to scrape the spices from the bottom of the pan. Return the meat to the pan. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Add the vegetables to the pan and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the meat is tender. Uncover the pan for the last 15 minutes of cooking, and stir regularly, so the gravy thickens. Serve with long-grain or basmati rice.

HINT: The flavour of curry improves overnight. Transfer to a bowl, cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed. You can also freeze curries in airtight containers

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 60 minutes
Serves: 4-6

Source: Courtesy of the Survival for the Fittest cookbook, AIS Sports Nutrition. Go to http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/recipes for more performance fuel ideas.

Do you need a Sports Dietitian in your local area?

Did you know that you can search to find a qualified Sports Dietitian in your local area? Sports Dietitians can provide advice on issues such as:

• maximizing energy for sport and health
• eating to optimise growth and development
• what to eat before competition
• recovery nutrition techniques
• best fluid choices for exercise and staying hydrated
• maintaining appropriate body fat levels, and;
• education on food choices and tips while travelling

Make sure you get your accurate and up-to-date sports nutrition  information from the professionals for sound science and a proven track record.

 Click here to find a Sports Dietitian in your local area for individual consultations and/or group education sessions.

Have you attended an NES Course this year?

If you haven’t enrolled yourself in our popular one-day Nutrition for Exercise & Sport course yet, make this your New Year’s Resolution! You have the opportunity to learn from experienced qualified Sports Dietitians on a range of sport nutrition topics. It is appropriate for coaches of all levels, parents of active children, teachers, personal trainers, others interested in their own personal fitness and performance.

There is a NES Course running on Saturday 5th December 2009 in ACT. Click here for all the details or for more information or dates and locations in 2010.