At this moment, the chances are you have a dietary deficiency that's harming your health, hindering your recovery and holding you back in training. Even if you pop a multivitamin and get the recommended daily amount of vitamins and minerals, you're unlikely to be consuming enough...

One of the long-enduring and rarely questioned traditions associated with triathlon events of all kinds is the substantial pasta dinner the evening before race day. After all, who doesn't believe in the hearty, turbo-fuelling advantages of eating a

morning meal: the fat-phobic suggest skipping it until after your session; those planning a long session fuel up like builders; and those close to a race search for the perfect winning fuel.Whatever you're doing the idea is to keep your muscles

be at risk of nutritional deficiencies as well as poor physical performance.General healthy-eating guidelines as well as specialist requirements for athletes apply to meat-eaters and vegetarians. You daily aim should be to base your meals and snacks

, this mineral stimulates taste, smell, appetite and mood. Lean beef also contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, while iron and vitamin B12 promote healthy red blood cells.Greek yoghurtAs well as containing double the amount of protein as regular yoghurt

. Not only do avocados contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats but researchers at Ohio State University discovered that their phytochemicals can help prevent mouth cancer.2. GarlicThe pungent bulb is an enemy of cancer. But don't throw it straight

With three disciplines to consider, it's easy to make mistakes when you're eating and drinking during training and racing. That's the bad news. The good news is that it's easy to avoid triathlon's common nutritional pitfalls if you plan ahead

nausea or loss of appetite after training, or for convenience.8. Organise your routine of meals and snacks around your training timetable, to ensure adequate 24-hour recovery.9. Don't over-consume high-fat or high-protein foods at the expense

also offer protection against some cancers.Red PotatoesThe humble - and let's be honest, it's not much to look at - potato has had a bad reputation in terms of nutrition because we have a habit of frying it in fat, covering it with cheese or mixing

brain, a proper nutrition plan may take a back seat.But proper nutrition is central to your training and to race success. By fuelling correctly and ensuring you're hydrated before, during and after training, you will perform and feel better and still