What kind of diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies in athletes?

Highly restrictive diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies in athletes because these diets often limit or completely eliminate certain food groups, which can result in an inadequate intake of essential nutrients. For athletes, who have increased nutritional needs due to their training and performance demands, a lack of variety can hinder their overall health, performance, and recovery.

When athletes follow restrictive diets, they might miss out on vital vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates necessary for optimal performance and energy levels. This can lead to a range of deficiencies that can impair their physical capabilities, immune function, and recovery processes.

On the other hand, balanced diets, high-carbohydrate diets, and vegetarian diets can all be designed to meet an athlete's nutritional needs when planned appropriately. A balanced diet ensures a variety of foods are consumed, high-carbohydrate diets provide energy needed for endurance activities, and well-planned vegetarian diets can still supply all necessary nutrients if they include a diverse range of plant-based foods and possibly fortified products.