What is Sports Nutrition?
Sports Nutrition is the nutrition knowledge and how it can be applied to a daily eating plan that is focused on providing optimal energy levels for physical activity or a very physically active lifestyle as well as facilitating the repair and rebuilding process of the body following hard physical work. Great sports nutrition will also, optimize athletic performance in competitive events and activities.
Why is Sports Nutrition so important? The food we eat impacts our strength, training, performance, and recovery. A sports nutritionist provides nutritional education and services to athletes. They consult with athletes to help them develop optimal eating habits. Nutritionists design menus, recommend vitamins and supplements, and provide nutritional advice for athletes.
What courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering Sports Nutrition courses in the following subject areas:
- Sports Nutrition – The study of the knowledge and concepts and principles of nutrition, energy sources, and energy usage with an active lifestyle.
- Principles of Sports Nutrition – The study of current relevant sports nutrition guidelines.
- Sports Nutrition Coaching – The study of sports nutrition, exercise metabolism, macronutrients, and micronutrients.
- Fitness, Health, and Nutrition – The study of fitness, health, and nutrition and how to assess your fitness level and evaluate your current state of health.
- Principles of Sports Nutrition – Gain the knowledge and skills of current relevant sports nutrition guidelines.
Studying Sports Nutrition in college
Sports Nutrition courses will be delivered through lectures, assignments, tutorials, and taught modules. Assessments will take place continuously with written examinations and practical assignments combined to achieve the qualification.
There are full-time courses that run anywhere from 3 weeks to 1 to 2 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also online, part-time courses, and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
You could also consider work experience or work shadowing professional Nutritionists or Registered Dieticians.
Career options
After completing a course in Sports Nutrition you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of nutrition, exercise science, sports nutrition, kinesiology, food science, and dietetics.
Sports Nutritionists may find positions in most settings that are aimed towards optimizing physical activity and nutrition such as sports departments of colleges and universities, sports organizations, athletic clubs, food corporations, and rehabilitation centers.
Related jobs include:
- Nutritionist
- Nutrition Specialist
- Sports Management
- Clinical Dietician
- Dietetic Internship
- Dietician
- Registered Dietician
- Nutritional Consultant
Further study
After completing a course in Sports Nutrition you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field of research. You could choose to specialize within a certain area of nutrition, exercise science, sports nutrition, kinesiology, food science, and dietetics.
Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas,
FAQ
What is the role of a Sports Nutritionist?
The role of a sports nutritionist is to provide athletes and active adults which to enhance their athletic performance with guidance on clinical nutrition, health, and how these can be improved to gain greater results.
A Sports Nutritionist will perform safe and effective nutrition assessments and then provide sports nutrition guidance. They will design and manage effective nutrition strategies and programming for health and fitness using evidence-based research and guide their clients on exercise physiology, medical nutrition therapy, and nutrition science.
Can Sports Nutrition be used for any type of diet or lifestyle?
Sports nutrition can be greatly beneficial for any person who wishes to enhance their physical performance and Sports nutritionists can assist a wide spectrum of needs for athletes. Certain environments or dietary requirements may require additional guidelines and information to enhance athletic performance.
Vegetarian athletes will have a diet that contains high intakes of plant proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts which can be completely nutritionally adequate but dietary assessments will help to avoid any deficiencies and make appropriate changes.
Athletes who live in or are training for events in high altitudes may be encouraged to add more iron-rich foods, anti-oxidants, and proteins to avoid any illness from chronic high altitude exposure. Fluid requirements will also be monitored as these can vary per athlete.
Hot or cold environments can also put an athlete at greater risk for some health conditions so fluid and electrolyte balance will be monitored and hydration strategies will be applied as well as monitoring of body temperatures and caloric and carbohydrate intake.
Where can I study Sports Nutrition?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
· Artificial Trans Fats are unhealthy. Their production involves high pressure, heat, and hydrogen gas in the presence of a metal catalyst and this process makes liquid vegetable oils solid at room temperature.
· Eggs are one of the healthiest and most nutritious foods you can eat. Eggs are a very good source of inexpensive, high-quality protein. More than half the protein of an egg is found in the egg white, which also includes vitamin B2 and lower amounts of fat than the yolk. Eggs are rich sources of selenium, vitamin D, B6, B12, and minerals such as zinc, iron, and copper.
· Low-Fat doesn’t mean healthy. Sometimes “fat-free” is also, well, taste-free. And to make up for that, food makers tend to pour other ingredients — especially sugar, flour, thickeners, and salt — into the products. That can add calories.
· Fruit Juice Isn’t That Different From Sugary Soft Drinks. Fruit juices are considered as bad as soft drinks are because of the sugar content of these beverages. Both soft drinks and 100% fruit juice contain 110 calories and 20-26 grams of sugar per 240 ml.
· Health Is About More Than Your Weight. Most people focus too much on weight gain or loss. The truth is that health goes way beyond that. Many obese people are metabolically healthy, while many normal-weight people have the same metabolic problems associated with obesity
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