Dawn Jackson Blatner, the team’s nutrition consultant and author of The Superfood Swap, out December 27, shares how she fueled the Cubs for their stellar season.
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Beets and kale
“The nitrates in these veggies open up blood vessels to get more oxygen to the brain and muscles.”
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Matcha
The green tea naturally contains a compound called L-Theanine, “which helps keep you focused. So instead of coffee’s jittery energy, matcha gives more of a steady boost.” (Read about the best matcha in Chicago.)
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Tart cherries and watermelon
They’re “the two things I’d tell anybody to have” to reduce inflammation and counteract soreness after a workout.
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DIY Gatorade
A combo of water, orange juice, and sea salt mimic the carbs and electrolytes found in store-bought stuff. “I came up with that after I traveled with the team to the Dominican Republic, where they didn’t have all the sports drinks,” Blatner says. Another reason to make it yourself? “Sports drinks have a lot of crap in them.”