Nutrition

Athletes tend to do a good job of training their muscles, heart and lungs. But some (particularly endurance athletes and those in running sports) commonly fail to train their gut to accommodate performance enhancing carbs and water. That way, they can train better - hence compete better - without stressing about undesired pit stops.

In this era of highly competitive sports, athletes are always looking for ways to fuel optimally. Performance nutrition is also of interest to military personnel. Our longtime sports nutrition expert reports from this year's annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine on recent nutrition research from both civilian and military exercise scientists.

As summer swelters on, those on the front line of athletic care should be especially vigilant of hyponatremia when treating sick patients or advising healthy individuals. Recommend having a variety of fluids freely available and advise people - especially exercising athletes - to drink when thirsty and reduce activity, splash with water, and seek a shaded spot when hot. Before we promote blanket advice to "drink lots of fluid" and "stay well-hydrated", we should be mindful that fluid is a balance - especially during exercise.

According to a recent statement published by the American Heart Association the timing and frequency of meals is important for cardiovascular health, and is particularly important for athletes. Because children and adolescents who skip meals have a higher risk of developing health issues, the issue is particularly important for parents in meal planning.

With national magazines reporting that butter is back and the Paleo diet embracing coconut oil, athletes are left wondering whom to believe. A top sports nutritionist addresses the issue of dietary fat and the sports diet.

It is time parents take a closer look at the ingredients in the beverages we give our kids, says NHL star Ryan Suter.

It's no secret that disordered eating practices are common among weight-conscious athletes. A top sports dietitian has some helpful tips for making weight healthfully.

Can a vegetarian athlete get enough protein? What about antibiotics in meat? Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer? These are just a few of the questions that athletes often ask in their quest to eat wisely and consume a quality sports diet. Here are some answers from an expert, based on the latest research.