An Overview of Sports Nutrition 
                     An Overview of 
sports nutrition
 Sports nutrition plays a key role in optimizing the beneficial effects of physical 
activity, whether you’re a bodybuilder, a professional athlete in training or 
exercising to improve your mental and physical health.
Introduction
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 Sports nutrition is the foundation of athletic success. It is a well-designed nutrition 
plan that allows active adults and athletes to perform at their best.
What Is 
Sports 
Nutrition?
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 Nutrition professionals offer a variety of services to support your health and 
sporting goals. This can range from a daily food diary to tips for eating after 
workouts or a comprehensive nutrition plan for training and competitions. 
Services to 
support 
Source: www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk
The importance of 
sports nutrition
 Fuelling your body with the right foods is essential for sports performance, 
importantly fats, protein and carbohydrates which maintain the body's energy.
 Carbohydrates are the primary fuel used by working muscles, so adequate intake is 
essential for preventing muscle fatigue.
 Protein can be used as a source of energy and is critical for building new muscle tissue. If 
you're taking part in resistance training, your body will require additional protein.
Sports 
performance 
and energy
Source: www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk
 Nutrients are fuel for the body. In order for our physical and mental health to 
remain strong and healthy, we need to consume a balanced diet of nutrients that 
can carry you through everyday life. Not only whilst performing sports activity, but 
before and afterwards. 
Nutrients
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 Macronutrients are nutrients that provide calories or energy to the body. The 
purpose of macronutrients is to promote healthy cellular growth, metabolism, and 
to maintain normal bodily functions. 
 The macronutrients, as suggested by the name “macro,” are needed in the body 
in large amounts to provide the full and proper effect.
Macronutrients
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 Carbohydrates are either simple or complex, and the most important energy 
source for the human body. Simple carbs include sugars naturally occurring in 
foods like fruits, vegetables, and milk.
Carbohydrates
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 Proteins are made up of a chain of amino acids and are essential to every cell of 
the human body. Protein can either be complete or incomplete. A complete 
protein contains all the amino acids needed by the body, and include animal 
sources like meat, fish, poultry, and milk.
Proteins
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 Fats can be saturated or unsaturated, and they play a vital role in the human 
body. Unsaturated fats are considered healthy and come from plant sources like 
olive oil and nuts. 
Fats
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 Active adults and competitive athletes turn to sports nutrition to help them 
achieve their goals. Examples of individual goals could include gaining lean mass, 
improving body composition, or enhancing athletic performance.
Goal of Sports 
Nutrition
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