PINZOLO - On Inter Channel, Dr. Franco Combi discussed nutrition and, in
particular, the main characteristics of the team’s diet during the pre-season
training camp.
"We have to start with the fact that the players show up here with an
irregular diet, which is something that normally happens when you’re relaxing,
so they have to mentally face their return to training and the team. Therefore,
their diet should also indicate that the season is starting and, along with it,
certain nutritional requirements, rather than severity."
It’s a diet that however regards the upcoming season: "Both the quantity
and type of food change. Being at the pre-season camp, there’s the advantage of
being able to select the entire diet; that is to say, throughout the day their
diet is chosen by us, and during the season we’re well aware of what the dinners
consist of. Here we’re absolutely sure their diet is balanced from the moment
they wake up, with fruit, orange juice, fruit-based desserts, and yogurt for
cultured dairy products. And those who don’t drink milk receive their protein
through grana cheese, prosciutto and things like that."
The Trentino region is the home of Trentingrana and their products are always
available to the players: "It’s true, they’re always there. In the morning
and evening, for their quality, which is well known, and the fact that they’re
not fattening due to the skimming process. They’re also high in protein and
important salts. The players sweat a lot, especially in the summer, so there’s
more sodium absorption. Therefore, we always supplement it."
Regarding the temperature and hydration, Combi explained: "This year there
has been less rain, but the climate in Pinzolo is wonderful; fresh and always
breezy, probably as a result of the valley’s glaciers. If you’ve noticed, at
five in the evening clouds arrive that allow us to have a good workout. It’s
hot at 11:00 or 12:00, but that period doesn’t matter much to us."
A footballer’s diet is never lacking in fruit either – in particular apples,
such as those from the Melinda brand: "We try to promote fruit because it
contains natural sugars and minerals, and also because it immediately satisfies
the appetite. We give it to the players right after a workout, cut and peeled
because they’re spoiled [smiling], but really to make sure they take it and eat
it immediately. The famous saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? If
that’s the case then I’ll give five or six to each of them… [laughs]."
