Sports Nutrition

Description

Athletes need coaches to help them train to succeed in their sport. They need athletic trainers to help them pre vent and rehabilitate injuries that may occur during sport activities. Athletes are not expected to know how to prevent injuries or train appropriately on their own. However, it is often assumed that athletes know about nutrition and know how to eat for improved sport perform ance. Similar to working with a coach or trainer to improve sport specific skills, gaining education or seeking consultation about nutrition can help improve athletes’ sport performance.

The well hydrated and well-nourished athlete who pays attention to dietary intake before, during, and after workouts/competitions can gain a competitive edge over opponents. Dietitians have the education and experience to assess dietary intake, analyze medical information, and develop specific nutrition plans for athletes.

WHY SPORTS NURTITION IS IMPORTANT?

1. Sports Nutrition is important for athletes because it provides a source of energy required to perform the activity. The food we eat impacts on our strength, training, performance and recovery.

2. Meals eaten before and after exercise are the most important in sports nutrition but you should really be careful with everything that you put into your body.

3. The proportions of protein and carbohydrates that you require will vary depending on both the intensity and type of sport so to get your individual balance right you should contact a qualified sports dietitian for professional help with your sports nutrition.