Better nutrition knowledge helps keep better body composition

Knowledge is power, especially in the case of nutrition knowledge. Having a solid understanding of nutrition can help improve every aspect of your life, top to bottom. Eating properly keeps you mentally sharp, decreases soreness, improves power and performance in the gym and on the field and also help prevent you from getting sick. The key though is to truly understand and know what your body needs. That allows you the freedom to make decisions on your own without relying on someone else to tell you exactly what to eat. As an example, improved body composition is a goal many of us have. In a recent study they showed that increased nutrition knowledge was correlated with just that.

Nutrition knowledge throughout the season

For athlete’s the year generally flows in the order of preseason, in-season, post-season and off-season. Each of these seasons are vastly different and as a result the nutrition needs are different. The training loads are going to be different to achieve different things and if eating the exact same way all year long, the maximum benefits won’t be achieved from that training. Training sessions are typically the hardest part of things so making sure nutrition is on point helps get the most out of them.

Challenges across the year

Off-seasons are when the biggest challenges tend to arise for most players. This generally results in weight gain as well as muscle mass loss due to a combination of less training and poor nutrition. When it’s time to report back for preseason typically there is a correction of that weight gain to result in peak shape come the regular season. As the referenced study here showed, better nutrition knowledge correlated with less negative changes in the offseason.

Maintaining closer to ideal body composition and weight numbers helps make the preseason go a lot smoother. Without having to spend the beginning just trying to get back into shape, the focus can be on improvement. There is also less risk of any injuries popping up. Needing to lose weight requires maintaining a calorie deficit. In that deficit the body isn’t able to recover or build muscle as well after training sessions. With such an increased workload in the pre-season this could be a recipe for disaster.

Make sure it's correct nutrition knowledge

So to improve and maintain your body composition, pay attention to your nutrition. There is a whole lot of information out on the internet on this topic though. Pay close attention to ensure you are getting your information from a reliable source. Don’t fall for a popular post from an influencer or the guy at the supplement store. Sometimes they can be correct but many times are questionable at best. If unsure about something, feel free to reach out to me to ensure you’re giving your body what it needs.

Study referenced: click here