Why student athletes don't care about nutrition...and how we change this.
Diane Johnson
Empowering youth athletes with simple and strategic nutrition & wellness support.
An easy 4 minute read today.
Nutrition helps student athletes when it is meaningful to them, relevant to their unique challenges and addresses them as a whole person.?
When nutrition doesn't do these things, student athletes check out.
What we’ve learned from listening to thousands of student athletes over the years is that most don’t get this kind of personal experience.
Some have told us it felt, “choppy”, “irrelevant” and “unrealistic.”
This is why a personal and holistic approach to nutrition is not just beneficial for student athletes; it's vital.?
What does holistic mean in a nutrition context?
Basically it means that we are concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the individual parts.
Concerned with the young person, not just the food.
Beyond calorie counting and “eating your macros”? a holistic perspective on nutrition delves into meaningful aspects of life that student athletes face daily.
Things like body image, fostering healthy relationships with food, supporting long-term health outcomes, and how stress is impacting them.
It’s about how they feel day to day and helping them understand that how they nourish themselves with food and life impacts how they feel.?
Here are a few complexities of student athlete nutrition that particularly benefit from a holistic approach.?
Body Image and Emotional Well-being:
Body image plays a pivotal role in the overall development of young athletes. The pressure to conform to societal standards can be overwhelming, leading to issues like body dissatisfaction and, in extreme cases, eating disorders.
A holistic approach to nutrition focuses on promoting a positive body image by emphasizing the importance of nourishing the body for optimal performance, strength, and endurance rather than conforming to unrealistic ideals. This mindset shift contributes not only to physical health but also to mental and emotional well-being.
This remains unaddressed if we just talk about energy needs and eating our veggies.
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Healthy Relationships with Food:
In a world filled with fad diets and conflicting nutritional advice right at student athlete's fingertips, it's even more crucial to in-still an understanding of food as fuel. (I can’t even count the number of times a young athlete has asked me about an eating trend they saw on Tik Tok. ??)
Helping athletes understand food and how it impacts their bodies and to view food as a source of energy, nutrients, and enjoyment helps them make informed choices that support their training and overall health. This perspective reduces the risk of developing unhealthy eating patterns and fosters a sustainable, balanced approach to nutrition.
Long-term Health Outcomes:
Long-term health outcomes are undeniably influenced by the nutritional habits established during formative years.
Holistic nutrition for young athletes goes beyond short-term gains, emphasizing the importance of laying a strong foundation for lifelong health. Proper nutrition during youth can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, support optimal growth and development, and contribute to sustained athletic performance well into adulthood.
Stress-Free Digestion:
This is perhaps the most critical nutrition and health?factor for student athletes today.?
Stress.?
Student athletes are some of the busiest, most ‘under pressure’ people I’ve ever met.?
Helping the understand stress, where it comes from,? how their body responds and how they can start to reduce or manage chronic is a crucial aspect and benefit of a holistic perspective on nutrition.?
Stress can significantly impact digestion (among other critical body functions)? leading to issues like indigestion, low stomach acid, intestinal permeability and nutrient malabsorption.?
Encouraging young athletes to adopt mindful eating practices, manage stress levels, and incorporate gut-friendly foods can contribute to a healthier digestive system. This, in turn, enhances nutrient absorption, supports overall well-being, and ensures that the body can effectively utilize the fuel provided.
Nutrition for student athletes needs to be about so much more than what they eat. A holistic perspective on nutrition is about nurturing their bodies and minds, their relationships with themselves and with food and fostering strategies for life long health wellness.??
As we prioritize their holistic well-being, we pave the way for a generation of athletes who not only excel in sports but also lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
When you are ready, there are a few ways that I help people like you everyday.
Until next week.
~ Diane