Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Nutrition provides readers with a preparatory look at the exciting field of sport and exercise nutrition, including its foundational concepts and the diverse career options available. With this one-stop resource, students thinking of entering the field, athletes, and those working with athletes will gain a basic understanding of how nutrition affects sport performance and exercise training. They will also see how this knowledge is put to work in today’s sport environment.
The text provides an overview of the field without getting into the more complicated, scientific details. It blends current and evidence-based information and the application of that information to athletes in various sports. The goal of the book is not only to cover the basics of sport and fitness nutrition but to inspire readers to continue their exploration of the topic.
Chapters 1 and 2 define the field of sport and exercise nutrition, the kinds of jobs available, and the education necessary for those jobs. Chapters 3 to 9 cover the essential nutrients of sport and exercise nutrition (carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and balance of water, electrolytes, and fluid) as well as energy balance and imbalance. The remaining chapters cover body weight and body composition, unhealthy eating practices, and the future of sport and exercise nutrition. Because sport nutrition is a young scientific field, the information can sometimes appear to be confusing, contradictory, incomplete, and even unknown. With this text, readers will get the most up-to-date answers to common questions on weight loss, supplements, sport drinks, and other popular issues.
Each chapter of the text summarizes the latest scientific literature and then translates that information into practices that can be used by athletes, coaches, trainers, physicians, and other professionals. Throughout the book are many features that enhance the learning experience and show readers how sport nutrition is used in today’s world:
Numerous boxes highlight interesting topics, myths, and popular beliefs.
Success Stories showcase individuals who have been successful in the field, how they got to where they are, and how they spend a typical day.
Sidebars draw attention to interesting trivia and debatable topics.
An appendix explores how other professions might use sport and exercise nutrition in their work.
Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Nutrition is the second book in Human Kinetics’ Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science series. The series helps students and professionals understand the basic topics, goals, and applications of the many subdisciplines in kinesiology. This and other books in the series provide a solid grounding that readers can use as a jumping-off point for further study.
Part I. Welcome to Sport and Exercise Nutrition
Chapter 1. What Is Sport and Exercise Nutrition?
Origins and History of Sport Nutrition
Sport Nutrition as a Subspecialty of Nutrition
Is Sport Nutrition an Art or a Science?
The Short of It
Chapter 2. What Can I Do With Sport Nutrition?
What Jobs Are Associated With Sport Nutrition?
What Degrees and Credentials Are Needed?
How Does Sport Nutrition Interface With Other Professions?
The Short of It
Part II. Building Blocks of Sport and Exercise Nutrition
Chapter 3. Energy Balance and Imbalance
What Is Energy?
What Is Energy Balance?
Effect of Metabolic Rate on Energy Balance
Effect of TEF on Energy Balance
What Is Energy Imbalance?
The Short of It
Chapter 4. Carbohydrate
What Is Carbohydrate and How Does It Relate to Exercise?
What Are the Daily Carbohydrate Recommendations?
Sources of Carbohydrate
Distribution of Daily Carbohydrate Intake
How Does an Athlete Carbohydrate Load?
The Short of It
Chapter 5. Protein
What Are Amino Acids and Proteins?
Sources of Dietary Protein
What Is the Daily Protein Recommendation?
The Short of It
Chapter 6. Fat
What Is Fat?
How Is Fat Digested and Stored?
How Is Fat Used During Rest and Exercise?
What Is the Daily Recommendation for Fat?
Sources of Fat
Are Some Fats Associated With Health Risks?
The Short of It
Chapter 7. Vitamins
What Are Vitamins?
How Do Vitamins Function?
How Much of Each Vitamin Is Recommended Daily?
Sources of Vitamins
The Short of ItChapter 8. Minerals
What Are Minerals?
How Do Minerals Differ From Vitamins?
How Do Minerals and Exercise Affect the Body?
What Is the Recommended Daily Intake of Minerals?
Which Minerals Are Likely to Be Deficient?
The Short of It
Chapter 9. Water, Electrolytes, and Fluid Balance
What Is Homeostasis and How Is It Maintained?
Factors That Affect Water Balance
Factors That Affect Electrolyte Balance
Is Precise Regulation of Water Necessary?
Why Do Athletes Need Individualized Plans for Fluid and Electrolyte Intake?
What Type and How Much Fluid Should Be Consumed?
How Does Dehydration Affect Training, Performance, and Health?
Signs of Dehydration
The Short of It
Chapter 10. Weight, Body Composition, and Performance
What Is Body Weight?
What Is Body Composition?
How Do Weight and Body Composition Relate to Performance?
What Is Needed to Increase Muscle Mass?
How Much Muscle Mass Can Be Gained?
The Short of It
Chapter 11. Athletes and Disordered Eating
How Do Normal and Disordered Eating Differ?
What Is an Eating Disorder?
Which Athletes Are Most Susceptible?
Factors That Influence the Development of Eating Disorders
What Is the Female Athlete Triad?
The Short of It
Marie Dunford, PhD, RD, is a freelance author and editor of nutrition education materials, including textbooks, consumer books, online courses, continuing professional education courses, and magazine and newspaper articles. She is coauthor of Nutrition for Sport and Exercise, a college textbook, and The Athlete’s Guide to Making Weight and editor of Sports Nutrition: A Practice Manual for Professionals, Fourth Edition.
A former professor and chair in the department of food science and nutrition at California State University at Fresno, Dr. Dunford has extensive experience with NCAA Division I athletes. She is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Dietetic Association (ADA). She also is an active member of Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN), a practice group of the ADA, and recipient of their 2006 Achievement Award. She received a PhD in education from the University of Southern California. Her master’s and bachelor’s degrees are in the field of dietetics, and she is a registered dietitian.