A solid nutritional program must be included into your conditioning regime. You can rigorously follow your training program to the tee and have it all washed out because of poor dietary eating habits, or even eating the wrong percentages of the proper food. You must supply your body with the proper nutrients and in the right amounts in order to achieve optimal results. The old adage is true-you are what you eat. There are certain absolutes to nutrition that are essential for maintaining not only opti- mal health, but top athletic performance as well. This chapter is by no means inclusive, it would be impossible to cover all aspects of nutrition in one chapter. It is our goal in this section to provide sound, healthy nutritional guidelines for the baseball athlete incorporating these nutritional absolutes.

MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

I don't think there is any subject that is filled with more misconceptions and incorrect teaching then the area of nutrition. Because of our compulsiveness with body fat, we as a nation have gone from one quick fad diet to another. These fads have not only failed to live up to their promises but they have watered down our nutritional values as well. We have focused on body fat and losing weight instead of on sound healthy nutritional principles which when utilized will produce desired results.

BALANCE

With all of that in mind how can we make our way through the maze of nutritional information and come up with a solid program? The answer is simple: balance. You must incorporate a balanced program based on solid nutritional principles in order to have a successful dietary program. The initial step in finding a balanced program is to first analyze your nutritional goals. I think here is where some of the confusion can be cleared up. You see many people are following nutritional diets and guidelines that are not appropriate for them. They may be right for your friend who runs track (endurance athlete) but it will not be balanced for you. An endurance athlete's nutritional needs are going to be different from yours. He will require a higher percentage of carbohydrates. Despite these differences however there are certain absolutes which are foundational to both. The key is to identify your needs and calculate your required percentages. This will be balance for you. His diet will be balanced for him.

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