Vol. 1, Issue 13, Part L (2015)

Sport nutrition is essentially the study of the science behind food and how it can benefit or impair sporting performance and fitness. As we have discussed throughout this fact-sheet, what an athlete eats and drinks prior to training, whilst training and during competitions can have reverberating effects on their body composition and ultimately performance and recovery. good health and good nutrition is well established. Interest in nutrition and its impact on sporting performance is now a science in itself. Whether you are a competing athlete, a weekend sports player or a dedicated daily exerciser, the foundation to improved performance is a nutritionally adequate diet. Just as a car runs best with a full tank of gas, your body needs the right kind of fuel from food. A balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and water will give your body what it needs for peak performance.
Whether you are a professional or amateur athlete, if you wish to optimise your performance level and guarantee continuous improvement, a healthy and well-planned diet could help you to do so. Many athletes and sports enthusiasts spend a lot of time planning meals which could help to optimise their performance, but very few individuals actually possess the specialist knowledge needed to develop an appropriate and effective nutritional strategy. If this sounds like something you would be interested in doing but are unsure of where to start then this is where the ‘know how’ of a qualified sport nutritionist could be of benefit. Its concluded that athletes need more food and fluids than non athletes. regular meals and healthy snacks will help fuel your body before and after exercise. its important to give your body enough of the right fuel in order to feel good and have the energy you need to perform your best. If you do choose to consult a sport and exercise nutritionist, they will apply their knowledge to create a diet programme which is going to help maximise your sporting performance as well as improving overall health and well-being.