Having a balanced diet combined with regular physical exercise is one of the recipes for those seeking a healthier life. But it is from there, the doubts arise, such as what to eat, how often to do physical activities, what kind of food to include in the menu, and how to take supplements, among other things. All these questions can be answered by going to a sports nutrition specialist.
This is the professional indicated for those who want to improve physical performance and seek to balance nutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids, fats, and proteins. It can be found in clubs, gyms, associations, or even in private practice.
Want to know more about this branch? In this text, we will talk about the profession, the area’s job market, and how to form this niche. Read on and learn and also visit website!
What Does A Sports Nutrition Professional Do?
This is the area that is related to both Nutrition and Physical Education. Those who choose to pursue a career have to combine knowledge in Physiology and Biochemistry with an understanding of the nutritional needs of those who practice physical activities.
A balanced diet is directly linked to good physical performance — as it improves performance — while a bad diet can reduce our bodily possibilities. Contrary to what many people think, the search for sports nutrition should not be done only by professional athletes. Ordinary people of different ages and who do some activity frequently should also go after this professional.
He will pay attention, for example, to what is essential to add to the diet and be able to have a good exercise development. In addition, it will observe how the hydration is and the amount of water needed to ingest and indicate the best specific strategy for the most different situations.
When the service is focused on professional athletes, it is common to look for a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists, sports directors, physiotherapists, and doctors from other specialties. This is an important task; after all, it is necessary to maintain an adequate intake of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, liquids, vitamins, and minerals, helping the athlete achieve the goal and improving his performance.
Among the main functions of the sports nutritionist are:
- assess body composition and verify indicators such as the Body Mass Index, as well as the proportion between the various components, such as muscle mass, fluids, skin, fat, viscera, and bones;
- develop a specific type of diet for training and competitions, in addition to defining how, how much and when it is necessary to ingest certain nutrients to ensure the best result;
- getting the diet to cover energy expenditure, but also promoting the body’s recovery, whether for an athlete or for those who regularly go to the gym, for example;
- make plans for hydration — essential for the body’s good performance — always taking into account the individual’s organism, with its specific rates and rhythms;
- take into account the type of activity performed, the athlete’s conditions, and the type of diet available, among other issues, to prescribe the best options;
- check the need for supplementation, which can be helpful in some cases, but respecting the restrictions of each person.