‘Sports foods’ for athletes

‘Sports foods’ play a crucial role in meeting an athlete’s body’s energy needs during exercise. These nutrients serve various functions such as protecting cartilage, improving muscle quality, controlling weight, and much more.

The impact of mental toughness on sport performance

Does mental toughness make a difference in sport performance? This review dove into research and found that athletes with higher mental toughness consistently perform better, especially in combat and individual sports.

Motor training and the athlete’s brain

Motor skill training doesn’t just improve performance, it rewires the brain! Athletes develop fewer but stronger brain connections through training, boosting focus and reaction time and giving them a mental edge.

Predicting muscle fiber composition

Curious about your muscle type? This study suggests that the number of reps you can do at 80% of your maximum weight (1RM) reveals whether you have more fast-twitch or slow-twitch muscle fibers.

Athletic performance gains and genes

Nutritional strategies tailored to an individual’s genetic profile can significantly impact physical performance. Despite general guidelines, personalized nutrition for athletes considers genetic differences in nutrient absorption, metabolism, and utilization. Research in the fields of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics suggest that sports professionals should increasingly focus on personalized dietary plans to optimize athletes’ health, body composition, and…

Concussion guide for athletes

Wearable sweat loss measuring devices

As technology continues to advance, athletes are increasingly using devices to enhance their performance and overall health. Wearable sweat sensors have become one of these key tools for health tracking. Here are recent developments in sweat loss measuring devices and how they contribute to improved tracking and monitoring of overall body health.

Preventing overtraining syndrome in elite athletes

Elite athletes’ intense training boosts performance but can lead to overtraining syndrome (OTS) without ample rest. A new review highlights OTS’s impact on physical and mental health, manifesting in reduced performance, mood swings, and motivation loss. Preventing OTS involves monitoring loads, prioritizing recovery, and adjusting training plans promptly based on early signs for optimal athlete…

Meditation for stress management

While many methods of stress management exist, meditation has been shown to be a promising practice in reducing cortisol levels. A recent study found that meditation interventions had a significant effect on cortisol levels in the bloodstream. Significant effects were also found in patients with a somatic illness and people living in stressful life situations….

Managing athlete nutrition

Did you know that deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron are common in female athletes? Managing athletes’ nutrition to prevent low energy availability and other diet-related disorders requires interdisciplinary cooperation among healthcare professionals including physicians, dieticians, and psychologists.