Athletes often overlook the importance of diet in relation to their athletic performance. Athletes are exposed to a variety of training and competition stressors. The frequency, volume, intensity, and timing of the training can negatively affect sleep health and recovery.

Increasing consumptions of fruits, vegetables, and fish have been suggested to improve the sleep health of athletes. A whole food diet is often recommended to improve athletes’ recovery and performance. Kiwi fruits may be a game changing dietary choice for athlete recovery and sleep. Kiwi fruits contain melatonin, serotonin, and folate which are important nutrients that assist in the sleep process.

According to Doherty et al. (2023), consuming 2 green kiwi fruit 1 hour before bed may have positive impact on the sleep and recovery of athletes. This seems like a promising intervention for athletes seeking to improve sleep and recovery from training.

Doherty, R., Madigan, S., Nevill, A., Warrington, G., & Ellis, J. G. (2023). The Impact of Kiwifruit Consumption on the Sleep and Recovery of Elite Athletes. Nutrients, 15(10), 2274. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102274