Protein is having a moment. If you’re trying to get more protein into your diet, you have to be smart about how you’re consuming it, says performance coach Leisbeth Pauwels. She’s located in Amsterdam and works with LPGA and LET players. She’s seen golfers reach for protein bars as on-course fuel. But she recommends you stay away from them for a couple of reasons.
First, when you grab a protein bar, you’re probably eating something that’s highly processed. Some options are better than others, but Pauwels says that she tries to keep her players away from processed foods whenever possible.
“When you eat something processed, the quality of what you’re getting is worse. The ratio of protein is often not traceable and there is a lot of other stuff in a protein bar that’s more chemical,” Pauwels says.
The second reason Pauwels doesn’t recommend protein bars is that you shouldn’t be devouring protein on the golf course, because digesting protein is a lot of work.
“Think about how you feel after eating a steak,” Pauwels says. “You feel like you want to lay down,and digest. It’s because protein takes energy and time to digest and absorb in the body. On the course, that competes with the energy we need for our swing, for focus, for making precision motor control movements, and for emotional and mental regulation.”
Pauwels says that during the round, you should eat carbs because they’re easier to digest and absorb, and save the more significant protein intake for when the round is over.
“Use your protein after the round,” Pauwels says. “That’s when we want to give the body room to grow and adapt and recover.”
But that doesn’t mean you should avoid on-course protein altogether.
“It’s OK to have a protein source during the round. Something that’s a little less processed like some beef jerky,” Pauwels recommends. “If we combine a little protein like jerky, with some carbohydrates like apples, celery, and carrots, we have a snack that’s high in fiber which helps to maintain the blood sugar level. It’s not going to spike. In golf, we want to have stable blood sugar, we don’t want the peak and crash because that also costs the body a lot of energy. Add in seeds, like sunflower or pumpkin seeds, and you’re adding more fiber and healthy fats for sustained energy.”
Protein is a popular topic right now. The hype has people reaching for any form of protein they can get their hands on. But type of protein you eat, and when you eat it, matters.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
