If you like basketball, volleyball, track or any other sport, you NEED to be able to jump high. There are many diets that promise to improve your athletic abilities, but I have only found one diet that works. Here are a couple of aspects of that diet and the benefits of each.

Eat fat!

This sounds shocking to most athletes. I’m not saying you should eat a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken every night. There is a type of fat that is very beneficial for improving speed and strength: Omega-3 fat. This unique fat is found in fish, nuts, some eggs, and some whole grain breads.

Omega-3 is important to an athlete’s diet because of the actual cellular enhancement it provides. Omega-3 fats give elasticity to every cell in your body, which is a crucial part of injury prevention. The less time you are injured or in pain, the more time you will have to focus on exercising to improve your vertical jump. Omega-3 gives you the energy you need to perform your workouts at optimal levels.

High in carbs!

For whatever reason, people like to eat a low-carb diet. This does not work for athletes. Think of carbohydrates as gasoline in a car. Without gasoline, the car cannot function. The same is true of our bodies. You must eat large amounts of carbohydrates to have the energy necessary to improve your jump.

However, there are carbohydrates that you should stay away from. Anything that is not 100% whole grain contains starchy carbohydrates. These starchy carbohydrates can be quickly converted to glucose and that only adds fat to your body. Eating 100% whole wheat breads will give you a quick burn, but long lasting carbohydrates and energy.

Keep in mind that no matter what you eat, you won’t improve your vertical jump height without a solid exercise plan.