Rugby Player James Lowe on Food for Performance

He’s played for the Māori All Blacks and he’s currently signed to European champions Leinster, so if there is anyone who can talk about fuelling their body for optimal performance it is 25-year-old professional rugby player James Lowe. The Irish Examiner’s Joyce Fegan interviews Lowe at Leinster Rugby’s headquarters in University College Dublin.

Standing at over 6ft tall, the New Zealander’s physical presence is strongly felt, Fegan writes.

Lowe and Fegan chat about the scenery of his homeland and the scenery of Ireland’s before discussing what he eats to perform at his best.

“Eating, what you put into your body, it’s fuel. You don’t put 91 RON (standard petrol) in a Ferrari do you?” Nelson-born Lowe says. “So if you want to be moving and acting like a Ferrari, you’ve got to watch the quality of food you do put in – how much carbs? How much protein? Protein is awesome for recovery, especially at night when you’re asleep.”

About seven years ago, the fullback got serious about his nutrition, particularly the recovery side of it. While it is now like second nature to him, the difference to his game and output is obvious.

Lowe is open about his week and what he puts into his body for optimal output.

“For breakfast, porridge and a banana with a bit of honey will get me through to lunch time. If I do feel like a snack there’s always fruit and fruit is always a good source [of nutrition] and it keeps you going.

“Lunch is normally a bigger meal because we would have had a training or a gym session or we would have been on the pitch in the morning and bar a little snack that would get me through to dinner.”

For his evening meal he will steer clear of carbohydrates, relying on protein to allow for overnight recovery from the day’s training.

He recommends protein sources such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds and legumes for sports people and states that athletes. It is normal for athletes to consume at least two to four times more protein than a non-exercising athlete.

Original article by Joyce Fegan, Irish Examiner, May 25, 2018.