Beans and lentils: the secret weapon for competitive swimmers?

This study looked at whether adding more legumes (like beans, lentils, and chickpeas) to a Mediterranean diet could improve hydration, heart rate balance, and swimming performance in competitive swimmers. Thirty-nine adolescent and young adult swimmers were split into groups based on how many servings of legumes they ate each week. Over five months, researchers measured body water levels, heart rate variability, and swim speed. The goal was to see if a simple diet change could help athletes without changing their training routine.