The MMA Digest

Team Quest Nutritionist Dr. Ryan Parsons

Age at 44 and beyond, UFC hall of famer Randy Couture is just a spring chicken in the mixed martial arts world, and an ingredient of his success has been due to the methodical diet devised by Dr. Ryan Parsons. The former Arizona State wrestler with a doctorate degree in chiropractic and nutrition, has for the past decade experimented with athletes like Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Heath Sims and the Team Quest Fight Club in Oregon to try and formulate the most effective diet possible for MMA athletes. Well known for advocating the consumption of greens in an athlete’s diet, Parsons feels that one can certainly be a successful fighter with a vegetarian or vegan diet, but more careful planning is required.

Dr. Ryan Parsons www.teamquestmma.com

Basically the focus should be on eating really nutrient rich foods that are easily digested and assimilated to have one’s body increase efficiency. “When you’re eating easily digestible and nutrient rich foods takes less energy for your body to take what it needs and get rid of the rest”, explains Parsons. “So you have more energy for other things—healing your body and everything else that’s involved with that.” Parsons asserts that having a lot of raw alkalizing enzyme rich foods as a foundation of the diet. Green vegetables are known to be very alkalizing and loaded with vitamins and minerals, as well as being enzyme rich foods which give the body a lot of energy. The multiple benefits have led Parsons to believe they are invaluable to an athlete. “They’re easy to digest and pack a lot of nutrition”, says Parson. “I’m a firm believe in including some type of greens with every meal.”

Carbohydrate sources should come mostly from vegetables, whole grains and a smaller percentage coming from fruits. Nuts and seeds are really valuable part of the diet for Parsons, with an emphasis on hemp and flax seeds. “Flax and hemp seeds provide a rich source of essential fatty acids along with protein”, comments Parsons. While on the protein end of the diet, Parsons feels beans and tofu are both excellent sources of protein.

If a vegetarian is still consuming eggs, then they become another source of protein. Some vegetarians consume dairy, and milk and cheese are an option, but those items are not something Parsons would recommend on the menu for athletes. “They’re very acidic and tend to be mucous forming in a lot of people”, elucidates Parsons. “A large percentage of the population have trouble digesting dairy products, so they’ll cut your wind down and produce a lot of mucous in your throat and make it harder to breathe.”

On the supplements end of the diet, Parsons is certainly has great faith in the LightForce “High Energy Greens” supplement that he founded, and feels that it is a good foundation for supplement use if needed. Other supplements that can be incorporated are Udo’s oil, hemp oils and a multivitamin with antioxidants in it. Furthermore, at times when an athlete’s diet is not the greatest, a digestive enzyme is also a great addition to a fighter’s supplement list. “A digestive enzyme can be real beneficial in helping you break down that food, because also the goal is to break down and absorb the food you eat as quickly as possible and get rid of the rest”, comments Parsons. The easier that process is made, the more efficiently a fighter’s body will run, the healthier he’ll be, and the better his performance will be.

Dr. Parsons’ Greens Supplement www.lightforcegreens.com

A important activity fighters should engage in according to Parsons is planning out menus, as well as making sure that their menu includes many options. “Getting food from a variety of different sources is one thing that’s important for everybody, not just vegetarian athletes”, advises Parsons. “So get your food from the biggest variety and most variety as possible.” And that variety can include some less than pristine foods diet wise for one day or a meal here and there without causing damage. Parsons subscribes to the 80-20 rule, where he believes it’s what you do most of the time that counts. “You have to give yourself some leeway”, says Parsons. “Especially if you’re traveling or you’re training really hard and need a break from everything.” So a guilt-free cheat day or meal every so often can be implemented into a fighter’s routine according to Parsons. “One meal or one day doesn’t ruin everything, it’s what you do most of the time that counts.”

Dr. Ryan Parsons is the founder of the LightForce” High Energy Greens” Supplement

Possible breakfast options from Dr. Ryan Parsons

Steel cut oats with hemp seeds sprinkled on top (Complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, doesn’t spike your blood sugar, some protein and fatty acids from the hemp seeds as well)

Fresh green vegetable juice (16 ounces)—a combination of kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, green peppers (Gives a huge energy boost and helps cleanse your body out)

Potential Meal Options during the Day from Dr. Ryan Parsons

Fresh vegetables with hummus dips or almond butter

Avocado on a yeast free toast

A handful or a trail mix—some type of nuts and seeds, some raisins or dried cranberries