Sports Nutrition

In Brief Research in nutrition and athletic performance has flourished in the past few decades, but applying the research to improve athletic performance is a challenge. Nutrition professionals need to have a solid understanding of energy demands. However, knowledge of medical nutrition therapy is also critical to helping athletes with medical conditions that can affect performance. Cultural, ethnic, and religious practices of athletes must also be considered to develop a realistic nutrition intervention. This article, using the framework of the American Dietetic Association's Nutrition Care Process and Model, will review 3 case studies: a Muslim athlete who fasts for Ramadan, an athlete with Crohn disease, and an athlete with body image disturbance. Some myths and realities about performance