Sports Nutrition for Females: Considerations in a Field of Research on Males
Historically, many scientific studies have been performed exclusively on men, assuming the menstrual cycle either didn’t have a significant effect or it was seen as a confounding variable. That scientific thought process has since been debunked! The menstrual cycle has a significant impact on exercise performance and metabolism. Having a better understanding of the menstrual cycle as it relates to exercise and nutrition and how it can help you and/or your athletes(s) perform their best no matter what phase they are in.
In this exciting time for women athletes, a small but growing body of research shows promising findings for enhancing female athlete performance by tailoring nutrition strategies to optimize performance in relation to the athlete’s menstrual cycle phase. Some areas of significant differences have been found in various phases of the menstrual cycle as they relate to the rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone in these areas:
- Exercise performance
- Macronutrient metabolism
- Substrate utilization
- Hydration status
In this webinar with SE Coach Kristen Arnold MS, RDN, CSSD we’ll seek to have a better understanding of the menstrual cycle, how it relates to exercise and nutrition, and how to best perform no matter what phase you or your athletes are in. This webinar was hosted June 9th, 2020.