Increase your sports performance and endurance with the help of our sports dietitians, your experts in sports nutrition.

What Is Sports Nutrition Counselling?

Whether you are a competitive athlete or a recreational athlete, sports nutrition counselling can improve your sports performance. A registered dietitian can develop a sports nutrition program and create a strategic eating plan adapted to your lifestyle.

Your nutrition expert will guide you to optimize your macronutrient intake (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) according to your sport and your training frequency. You will also receive easy-to-understand, personalized teaching materials tailored to your needs and objectives. 

No matter what type of sport you take part in, anyone looking to improve their nutrition and fitness can see the benefits of using a sports nutrition counselor. For example:

• Resistance sports: running, swimming, cycling, skating, pole vaulting, shot put, powerlifting, etc.
• Intermittent sports: interval running, soccer, basketball, field hockey, rugby, soccer, tennis, badminton, etc.
• Endurance sports: half marathon, marathon, triathlon, iron man, cross-country skiing, obstacle course, cycling (road and mountain), rowing.
• People of all ages, genders and fitness levels.

Professional support is a must-have for serious athletes to improve their health and athletic performance as well as recovery times after workouts.

The Diet’s Effect on Athletic Performance

You may be wondering if diet has that big of an effect on performance. For exercisers and athletes alike, how you eat can improve or worsen your performance. What you choose to eat can affect how much energy you have during training. It can also affect many areas of the body that are important for performance such as:

• Muscle mass
• Weight
• Endurance
• Energy levels
• Recovery time

A healthy relationship with food will increase performance and improve your athletic abilities. It will allow you to perform at a higher level and maintain your fitness for a longer time.

Reduce risk of injury

Daily training puts a lot of stress on your body and causes it to need an improved diet. It also causes your body to lose essential nutrients. Failure to increase energy intake can lead to weak bones and overworked muscles.

Hydration is another important factor in injury prevention. When you are not hydrated, your physical and mental performance suffers. When this happens, you are more prone to injuries.

A sports dietitian can help you create hydration and electrolyte replacement plans to prevent injuries.

Facilitate recovery from injuries

If you do get an injury while training or competing, proper nutrition can help you heal quicker. The right mix of vitamins and minerals can help your body recover from injury. It will allow you to get back to training faster after an injury.

In addition, your professional will advise you on how to optimize your food intake in order to maintain your muscle mass and avoid unwanted weight fluctuations.

Maintain a Healthy Weight and Body Composition

It is well known that maintaining a healthy body weight can have a positive impact on your life. But there are so many fad diets out there that it may be hard to figure out the best way to manage weight. It can be difficult to nourish your body with all the false information circling.

A registered dietitian can help you design a specialized program to fit your needs. Whether you are looking to lose, gain, or maintain your weight, they can help design a program for you. It will only use scientifically proven ways to achieve your weight goals.

Optimize your Nutrition Supplementation

Nutrition supplementation is a big part of the athletic performance industry. Dietary supplements are not regulated by the government in the same way food is. It’s very difficult to know if a supplement will perform in the way it is advertised.

A dietitian and nutritionist for athletes can help you navigate the supplement industry and educate you. They can help you to understand which supplements work and which ones are best for your goals. They can help you choose evidence-based, safe and effective supplements to improve your performance.

Learn How to Improve and Adapt your Hydration

Hydration in athletic performance can often be overlooked or misunderstood. The amount of fluids and electrolytes needed can vary from day to day, depending on the weather, the intensity of the activity and sweat rate.

Lacking hydration knowledge can harm your athletic performance. It can also lead to an increased risk of injury.

A sports nutrition counselor will advise you on how to replace electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, and evaluate your hydration status. They can create a hydration plan that is designed for you and your body’s needs and recommend specific electrolyte drinks.

The Benefits of Working with a Registered Dietitian in Sports Nutrition

Medical Conditions Management

When you have a chronic illness, such as diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease, you know it can affect all areas of your life. Athletic performance is no exception to this. You may not be able to train or perform at the level you want.

Our health professionals can ensure that you are getting the correct nutrients to manage your chronic conditions and improve performance. It will help to relieve some of the stress placed on your body by these conditions.

Personalized Eating Recommendations

If you find yourself lost in a sea of eating tips and tricks, a registered dietitian can help you. They can help you to learn what foods your body reacts to and the best time to eat. Timing is an important aspect of nutrition when it comes to training and competition.

Nutrition counselors can help you plan snacks and meals that you will enjoy to boost performance. They can help you create a balanced diet with optimized macronutrient intake. It will allow you to make food choices to benefit your body for training and competition.

Support for Specialized Diets

Many athletes choose to follow specialized diets for personal, ethical, or religious reasons. A dietitian can help you balance your diet to maximize nutrient intake, regardless of your diet type:

• Celiac or gluten-free diet
• Low-carb, paleo or keto diet
• Low-FODMAP and IBS friendly diet
• Plant-based, vegetarian or vegan diet

Education from a nutrition counselor can help you make better choices while maintaining your diet. It can also help you from falling into a rut of eating foods that may not be ideal for your body.

Your registered dietitian can help you develop a well-rounded eating plan that sticks to your food preferences. It will ensure that your body is getting everything it needs for optimal athletic performance.

Maintaining a Positive Relationship With Food

The most important aspect of creating an eating and nutrition plan is to ensure your relationship with food is a healthy one. This is the only way you can create a lasting program to fuel your workouts in the long run. It also helps improve your mental health.

If you are feeling anxious or obsessive about your food intake, a dietitian can help with intuitive and mindful eating. Athletes are more likely to develop eating disorders than non-athletes. You can work with a dietitian to screen for disordered eating and address the issues.

Use a Sports Nutritionist or Dietitian for Improved Performance

When you work with a sports nutritionist, you can see positive results in all areas of your life. A healthy diet and relationship with food will improve your performance and mental health. You can receive personalized plans to fit your lifestyle and training program.

Our nutrition team is here to help you achieve your athletic goals. Schedule a virtual or in-person meeting with us today! Nutrition counselling services provided by registered dietitians and nutritionists are covered by most health insurance companies.