How to Stay as Healthy as an NFL Player 

By Patrick Banks

Posted 10 months agoHEALTH

Playing in the National Football League (NFL) is one of the world’s most demanding and physically challenging professions. The game’s physical demands require players to be in top shape year-round, mentally and physically. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is critical for NFL players to stay fit and injury-free throughout the season.

The NFL isn’t only good for watching, though. Like NFL odds, the game unites people across the country and even provides a source of income through betting.

In case you were thinking of becoming an NFL player, we have curated a list of all that NFL players do during and off-season to stay in shape. 

Proper Nutrition

If you’re trying to become an NFL player, you must have noticed their build. Most NFL players eat much more than regular people, as they must consume at least four thousand to six thousand calories daily. Try not to be deceived by the sizes of some of these players. A player in the 300-350 pound range may not be considered fat, thanks to proper nutritional and dieting habits.

One thing most successful players in the NFL have in common is that they all maintain a strict diet regime. The most favored diet plans involve vegetables, fruits, lean protein, complex carbs, and seafood. Another important fact is that they all avoid processed foods, artificial sweets, and saturated fat. 

Having a clean and well-managed diet is one of the best nutrition tips because it helps the body stay in shape, helps to repair worn-out muscles, and enhance stamina. Dieting does not necessarily mean you have to deny yourself from enjoying food; it simply means you have to devise ways to enjoy your food without ruining your body. 

Hydration

Hydration is critical for NFL players, and it’s essential to stay hydrated all the time during games and practices. Proper hydration helps regulate body temperature, maintain blood pressure, transport nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and remove waste from the body. 

Conversely, inadequate hydration can lead to dehydration, which can cause cramps, fatigue, headaches, and other health issues.

NFL players must drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated. Water is the best choice, as it’s free of calories, sugar, and caffeine. Sports drinks can also be helpful, especially for players who engage in high-intensity training or games, as they contain electrolytes and carbohydrates to replenish lost fluids and energy. However, it would be best to avoid sugary drinks, as they can affect overall health negatively.

Strength and Conditioning Training

Strength and conditioning are crucial parts of an NFL player’s training program. These workouts are designed to improve the player’s physical attributes, such as strength, speed, agility, endurance, and flexibility.

Strength training uses resistance bands, weights, or bodyweight exercises to build muscles and increase strength. It’s essential to perform activities that focus on various muscle groups, such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and overhead presses. You can work with a strength and conditioning coach to create a customized workout plan focusing on your needs and goals.

It is crucial to note that the training needs to suit the players’ current physical form. Therefore, the type of exercise, the intensity, and the variations must all be tailored to the player.

Sleep

Our list would only be complete by emphasizing the importance of adequate sleep. Inadequate sleep can lead to decreased cognitive and physical performance, increased risk of injury, and other health problems. 

In addition, NFL players typically engage in high-intensity training and require a lot of physical and mental exertion during games and practices, which makes adequate sleep critical for their recovery and performance.

To get better sleep, you should establish a consistent sleep schedule, including waking up and going to bed at the same time every day. Creating a sleep-conducive environment, including a dark, quiet, and cool room, comfortable bedding, and limiting electronic device use before bed is vital. 

Additionally, you should avoid consuming caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants that can interfere with sleep.

Mental Stimulation 

Mental stimulation is a crucial part of every athlete’s routine. It helps to exercise your mind and keep it sharp, especially during a game. 

Mental alertness is almost as important as physical sharpness, because it alerts you about your teammates, opponents and the ball. If you aren’t mentally alert, you will not be the best version of yourself during gameplay. Yeah yeah.

To stimulate your brain, you must put yourself in situations that force you to think fast and hard. These drill can be performed alone at home or with other teammates on the pitch. When performed properly, both methods will drive almost the same results.

Injury Prevention 

An injury is every athlete’s nightmare because it forces you to miss out on the action as you nurse back to health. However, there are many ways you can prevent these injuries before they take place.  

Since football injuries are caused by contact, it will do you a lot of good to stretch adequately before the game. There are also special injury prevention exercises that can help you ward off any injuries as you play. 

Always ensure that you are wearing the correct gear, because improperly fitted gear can contribute to an injury. Invest in high-quality shinguards, helmets, pads, and mouthguards. 

Hygiene 

In a high contact game like football, it is important to practice healthy hygiene habits. During the game, it is very possible to come in contact with germs and bacteria, and possibly fall ill. It is not uncommon for a player to even spread a contagious disease to the entire team.

It is essential to take full showers after every game and change into clean clothes. Also, you should never share personal belongings like towels and clothes, as it is a quick way to expose yourself to illnesses like Staph. 

Another tip is to use clean equipment that you have cleaned with skin safe disinfectants. Ensure to spray down all your items, including helmets, gloves, shin guards , and pads. Cleaning equipment will greatly reduce your chances of coming into contact with bacteria and falling terribly ill.

About the author Patrick Banks

Patrick is a Berlin-based dating advisor, motivational speaker, a huge fitness and vegan diet enthusiast and the main editor at Wingman Magazine, specialised in men's health. His ultimate goal is to share with men around the world his passion for self-development and to help them to become the greatest version of themselves. He believes a healthy body and successful social interactions are two main keys to happiness.