Andean food consumption and perceived physical performance in university athletes

Introduction: Andean superfoods—such as quinoa, kiwicha, maca, and tarwi—have been consumed for centuries due to their high nutritional value, including elevated levels of protein, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Objective and Methodology: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Andean superfood consumption and its association with self-perceived physical performance among university athletes in Lima, Peru. A structured questionnaire was administered to 108 athletes from various disciplines to assess their consumption patterns and perceived physical performance. Results: The findings indicate a positive correlation between Andean superfood consumption and health perceptions, highlighting their potential role in sports nutrition. A gender disparity was observed in quinoa consumption: 66.7% of male respondents reported consuming quinoa, compared to 51.7% of female respondents. Conclusions: Promoting the intake of Andean superfoods may enhance athletes’ health perceptions related to physical performance. Among respondents, 94.23% of those who consumed these superfoods weekly and 100% of daily consumers reported improvements in performance. However, inferential analysis did not reveal a statistically significant relationship between consumption frequency and performance perception (p = 0.1065).