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What is one of the most important factors that drives athletes besides a competitive spirit and sheer determination? Food. Nutrition is a critical factor that contributes to overall good health and athletic performance. Sports nutritionists advise athletes on eating habits that support these goals.
In this post, we will see what a fitness and nutrition coach is, and what the key functions are. And if you are interested in a professional career in the sports field as a nutritionist, you should check out the academic offer at Real Madrid Graduate School - Universidad Europea, for example the Master in Sports Nutrition or the Masters in Sports Nutrition Online.
Sports health and nutrition coaches advise athletes and people interested in fitness on how to get their best performance by changing their diet to focus more on sports nutrition. They assess fitness level, desired activity level, current training regime, and diet to help people determine what to eat.
Sports nutritionists also evaluate nutritional supplements, consider sleep habits, lifestyle advice, and consider any food allergies and develop a new diet to improve athletic performance.
Sports nutritionists help design nutrition plans and provide information on healthy eating. Sports nutrition can make the difference between winning or losing. In addition, the coaching aspect is important as it has a mentoring role for the athlete to ensure that they maintain healthy eating habits to achieve their goals.
Unlike dietitians who work primarily with people who are sick or whose health is affected by issues such as food allergies, malnutrition, or diabetes, nutrition coaches work primarily with healthy people.
Key job responsibilities include:
Here are some examples of ways a sports nutritionist can help depending on the activities athletes do:
Cyclists should eat a balanced diet with enough calories to meet their nutritional needs. If these athletes don't consume at least 2,000 calories a day, they may be missing essential nutrients like iron and calcium. Cyclists need to eat plenty of protein and carbohydrates for endurance and energy when riding a bike.
Long distance races are usually between 10 km up to 100 km. The keys to success in these events are aerobic power, the ability to use a large percentage of that power, and high economy of motion. Carbohydrate overloading in the days leading up to the race and overhydration before the race can help runners be successful.
Weightlifting is a very different type of sport. It is an activity of short duration but of pure muscular activity. Sports nutritionists must tailor a diet to the personal needs of each individual athlete.
Both are endurance sports but feature short sprint periods. Recovery time is important for these athletes. Carbs and protein in the correct ratio are crucial to improving recovery time.
At Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea, we have a wide academic offer to be able to develop the necessary skills to have a professional career as a nutritionist within any sports institution. We know that you will have professional or personal commitments, and for this reason, you can choose to study a face-to-face or online program. In both cases, you will have access to an elite faculty made up of experts in their areas of knowledge, and opportunities to carry out projects and internships with some of the most important companies and clubs in the sports nutrition sector.