Chess and Nutrition

72 International GMs were interviewed regarding their nutritional habits. There are some fun statistics in the whole doc, but I thought this was the important part: What chess players should do, nutritionally, during competitions.

This is an excerpt from an interesting article by Roberto Baglione, a nutritionist and chess fan: http://www.chesscircle.net/chess-strategies/chess-and-nutrition.html

• Chess players should try to have breakfast daily.
• Avoiding “heavy foods” or foods of difficult digestion before games must be adopted as a regular habit for chess players. The last “main” meal before a game has to be had at least three hours in advance. If a player wishes to have something to eat nearer the time of the beginning of a competition (one or two hours before, e.g.) he/she should choose among fruits (whole ones, fruit salad or juices, raisins), cereal bars, pretzels, cookies, low fat yogurt with fruit or cereals, sports drinks.
• During the games, it is recommended fluid ingestion, and, if the chess player wants it (or when the game becomes long), solid foods. Mineral water, fruit juices, tea, coffee, sports drinks, cereal bars, fruits, raisins, dry fruits (almonds, e.g.), chocolate, cereal cookies, can be chosen. In all cases, moderate quantities should be taken.
• The best strategy to hydration is to drink small quantities at regular intervals, instead of greater quantities at a few intervals, and avoid being thirsty. The same indication should be followed during board training and physical activity. It is also important to begin the activity properly hydrated.
• It would be good for chess players “to train” the quantity of fluid to be drunk while playing training games in situations similar to the tournament’s; in order to determine if the options and quantities are well tolerated (and to become familiarized with them) and then, avoid drinking quantities during an important game which may result in concentration loss. The same routine should be taken into account for solid foods.
• Some characteristics of the urine can show the state of hydration, which gives players a very good reference. If at any moment of the day the color of the urine is dark yellow, it is small in volume and has a strong smell, then all these signs could be showing that the chess player might not be properly hydrated and, consequently, should drink plenty of water or fluids containing water in considerable proportion.
• It would be advisable for the elite chess players to count on scientific nutritional consultancy in order to cope with all the requirements that top-level chess entails, because nutrition plays a significant role in the sport performance.
• The improper use of dietary supplements, mainly under self-supervision or non-professional supervision, can cause health problems and may result in a positive anti-doping control. It is advisable that chess players take dietary supplements only if these are prescribed by a medical doctor after a complete general check, and, in the case of top players, only those ones which are not on the list of the banned substances and methods for chess. The players must be informed about the current World Anti-Doping Code.
• Physical activities should be considered as an important component of the chess player training. It is necessary to attend clinical- cardiologic tests before starting doing this type of activity and this program must be designed by a doctor or a physical trainer.

The author would like to express his sincerest thanks to all the International Grandmasters who kindly took part in this research, and to those who conveyed their apologies for not being able to do it.
Copyright © 2007, Roberto Baglione

hii

I will stick with bacon, I been a belly builder for almost 60 years now.

Nice bump there...

This was an observational study (survey), which proves nothing. I *do* agree with the majority of the recommendations, but certainly not all of them. Much has changed in the last 15 years. I would advise readers to take this paper with a grain of salt, and do their own research.

Oh, and the original article:

https://web.archive.org/web/20081219121421/http://www.chesscircle.net/chess-strategies/chess-and-nutrition.html

Bacon is awesome! - signed, some keto dude...

What about fried liver? Should players on low fat diets avoid the Fried Liver Attack?

Hii

Here are the FIDE recommendations:

https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Nutrition%20and%20Exercise%20Doc.pdf