Measuring nutritional status in athletes is imperative for
optimal performance. It can be quite a simple process of measuring anthropometrics and
performing a 24 hours diet recall or it can be quite an extensive process
depending on your budget.
Here is my method of measuring nutritional status in
athletes:
Athlete
interview
This is
conducted to establish the athletes nutrient intake. I perform a 24-hour diet recall
to establish what the athlete eats. But remember EVERYONE LIES! I want to find
out what habits they have for breakfast, lunch or dinner, what snacks they eat,
what drinks they have and what supplements they use. I also want to find out
about their sleep patterns. This helps me evaluate what is good and what is bad
and where I need to start with making changes to the athletes diet.
Anthropometrics
This means
measuring height, weight, body fat and waist to hip ratio. These measurements
help to establish fat mass and muscle mass and help to chart changes in these
markers over the course of a season and to if your training plans are working.
Full
blood count
This will
need to be carried out by a doctor but the information is useful for a team
nutritionist. You will get information on red cells, iron and haemoglobin
levels; electrolytes
such as Na and K; calcium, and corrected calcium levels; white cells.;
cholesterol, thyroid hormones and viruses such as Epstein Barr. This will help you establish
numerous things tat need to worked on with food or supplements.
Vitamin
D tests
Vitamin D
deficiency is rife amongst the population and athletes are no different.
Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium in the gut. Calcium is needed for muscle
contraction, bone health and muscle strength. Vitamin D deficiency could
increase the risk of stress fractures and has been shown to result in decreased
performance. I perform a blood test on my athletes and supplement accordingly –
starting with a 5000IU daily dose.
Food
intolerance test
At Nutritionist Wandsworth I perform
an IgG mediated food intolerance test from York Lab. This helps to establish
what athletes are over consuming and what may create additional inflammation in
their body. The main culprits from the tests I have done are eggs, milk, wheat
and soy. This means the athletes may need to avoid eating these foods for a
period of 8-12 weeks to see if the reaction decreases. Some foods may need to
be avoided or minimally consumed indefinitely.
These are
my foundation tests beyond these I also want to get information on the
following tests in part 2 of this article.