The diet of an Olympic athlete

(KYMA, KECY/CNN) - Health experts explain how Olympic athletes maintain a healthy diet in time for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Keeping a healthy diet isn't easy but it can soon become a habit you won't think twice about if you begin to see food as fuel.

David Creel, a registered dietitian, said, “What this means is, generally, a diet rich in carbohydrates which gives them the preferred fuel for their muscles and their brain when they exercise. And they want protein to help repair muscle and sometimes build muscle, and fats which are important for vitamin absorption and just to feel full after meals.”

Certain foods are chosen to help athletes mentally and physically at top shape by eating lean protein, fresh produce, whole grains and healthy fats.

It's also important to not skip meals and to eat in moderation, as well as drinking plenty of water and getting at least 7 hours of sleep.

“If someone doesn’t sleep well, they get up late, they skip breakfast, they make poor choices throughout the day or they may overeat at night. And when they overeat late at night, they don’t sleep well and this vicious cycle just continues day after day," continued Creel.