Why pro female soccer players need more carbs than protein
Energy expenditure and dietary intake in professional female football players in the Dutch Women’s League: Implications for nutritional counselling
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Protein intake (1.9 g/kg) exceeds general recommendations, yet energy intake remains critically low.
Most nutrition advice pushes high protein for athletes, but here, even with high protein, players are in energy deficit—suggesting protein isn’t the priority.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a female athlete or coach, track total daily calories and aim to close the 500+ kcal gap—especially on training and match days—by adding carb-rich foods like rice, pasta, or bananas.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Protein intake (1.9 g/kg) exceeds general recommendations, yet energy intake remains critically low.
Most nutrition advice pushes high protein for athletes, but here, even with high protein, players are in energy deficit—suggesting protein isn’t the priority.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a female athlete or coach, track total daily calories and aim to close the 500+ kcal gap—especially on training and match days—by adding carb-rich foods like rice, pasta, or bananas.
Publication
Journal
Journal of Sports Sciences
Year
2024
Authors
Naomi Brinkmans, Guy Plasqui, Luc J. C. van Loon, J. van Dijk
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Claims (5)
These players eat more protein than most people need — about 1.9 grams per kg of body weight — but they might not need that much, especially if they’re not eating enough carbs.
Female pro soccer players burn about 2,900 calories a day, mostly from playing and training, and the more muscle they have, the more calories they burn.
These female pro soccer players eat about 2,300 calories a day, but they burn nearly 3,000 — meaning they’re likely not eating enough to keep up with their training.
Instead of telling these players to eat more protein, nutritionists should focus on getting them to eat more carbs — especially on game days — because they’re not eating enough total calories.
These players eat more carbs on game days and training days than on rest days — they’re eating more fuel when they need it most.