Nutrition Sports Performance SPA

Nutrition aims and requirements differ during habitual exercise and competitive sports: from endogenous adaptations to developing metabolic efficiency to competition nutrition. Professional athletes enhance their performance through appropriate nutrition, following the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee: “The amount, composition and timing of food intake can profoundly affect sports performance” (Maughan et al, 2004).

The course will firstly examine the physiological needs pre-, during and post-competition and/or habitual exercise to perform at its best. Secondly, it will investigate how and why nutrient and energy intakes vary between different athlete groups, the difference between energy metabolism and requirements during aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Putting exercise and sports performance in focus, the topics will include: energy balance; macronutrients; selected micronutrients; fluid balance and hydration strategies; weight loss and weight gain in athletes, sport foods and supplements; position stands and new perspectives on sports nutrition, nutrient/energy requirements in exercise and sports, ergogenic aids and myths of sport nutrition.