Athletic Nutrition & Performance Program

At Natural Family Health Clinic, we recognize that athletes have unique nutritional needs. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a weekend warrior, our Athletic Nutrition & Performance Program is designed to optimize your performance, enhance your recovery, and support your overall health.

While a balanced diet is essential for everyone, athletes push their bodies to the limit, demanding more from their physiological systems. This increased demand translates to specific nutritional requirements to fuel training, support recovery, and maintain optimal health.

Think of your body as a high-performance machine. Just as a race car requires specialized fuel and meticulous maintenance, your body needs the right nutrients in the right amounts in order to achieve peak performance.

We believe in a personalized approach to athletic nutrition. Our program begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand your individual needs, goals, and challenges. This includes:

• Detailed Health History: We’ll delve into your medical history, training regimen, and any current dietary habits or restrictions.
• Performance Goals: We’ll discuss your specific athletic goals, whether it’s improving endurance, building strength, or optimizing recovery.
• Nutritional Analysis: We’ll analyze your current diet to identify any potential deficiencies or imbalances that may be hindering your performance.
• Body Composition Assessment: We may assess your body composition to determine your muscle mass, body fat percentage, and hydration levels.
• Metabolic and Micronutrient Testing: In some cases, we may recommend metabolic and micronutrient testing to understand your body’s energy utilization and nutrient status and optimize your nutrition plan accordingly.

Based on this assessment, we’ll create a tailored nutrition plan that addresses your unique needs and helps you achieve your athletic goals.

Our Athletic Nutrition & Performance Program focuses on several key areas:

• Macronutrient Optimization: We’ll determine the optimal balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to fuel your training, support muscle growth and repair, and maintain energy levels.
• Micronutrient Support: We’ll ensure you’re getting adequate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, calcium, and magnesium, to support optimal health and performance.
• Hydration Strategies: Proper hydration is crucial for athletic performance. We’ll guide you on effective hydration strategies to maintain fluid balance and prevent dehydration.
• Nutrient Timing: We’ll help you understand the importance of nutrient timing, optimizing your nutrient intake around your training schedule to maximize performance and recovery.
• Supplement Guidance: We may recommend specific supplements to support your training goals and nutritional needs. This is where our partnership with Designs for Health comes in.

We’re proud to partner with Designs For Health, a leading provider of high-quality nutritional supplements formulated with the unique needs of athletes in mind. Their science-backed products use rigorously researched ingredients to support performance, recovery, and overall health.

Designs For Health offers a dedicated line of sports nutrition products (Designs For Sport®) specifically designed for athletes. These products undergo rigorous testing and are NSF Certified for Sport®, ensuring they are free of banned substances and meet the highest quality standards.

NSF International is an independent, third-party organization that tests and certifies products to meet strict quality and safety standards. The NSF Certified for Sport® certification ensures that a product:

• Contains no banned substances: This is crucial for athletes who undergo drug testing.
• Meets label claims: The product contains the ingredients and amounts listed on the label.
• Is manufactured in a GMP-compliant facility: The product is produced in a facility that follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

By incorporating Designs For Sport® nutrition products into your personalized plan, we’re providing you with access to safe, effective, and high-quality supplements to support your performance goals.

Some of the Designs For Sport® products we often recommend for athletes include:

• Various proteins: For muscle growth and repair.
• Creatine: To enhance strength and power.
• BCAAs: To support muscle recovery and reduce soreness.
• Glutamine: To support immune function and gut health.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: To reduce inflammation and support cardiovascular health.

Our team will assess your individual needs and recommend specific Designs For Sport® products to help you achieve your athletic goals.

Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that play a vital role in supporting athletic performance and overall health. Here are a few key players:

• Vitamin D: Supports bone health, muscle function, and immune function.
• B Vitamins: Essential for energy production and metabolism.
• Iron: Crucial for oxygen transport and energy production.
• Calcium: Important for bone health, muscle function, and nerve transmission.
• Magnesium: Supports muscle function, energy production, and electrolyte balance.

We’ll assess your vitamin and mineral levels and recommend personalized supplementation if needed to ensure you’re meeting your body’s increased demands.

In some cases, we may recommend evaluating specific organ functions to ensure your body can handle the demands of your training regimen and nutritional program. This may include assessing:

• Liver Function: The liver plays a crucial role in metabolism and detoxification. We may assess liver enzymes to ensure optimal function.
• Kidney Function: The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products and maintaining fluid balance. We may assess kidney function through blood and urine tests.
• Thyroid Function: The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and energy production. We may assess thyroid hormone levels to ensure optimal function.
• Cardiovascular Health: We may assess heart rate, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular markers to ensure your heart is healthy and able to support your training.

Our Athletic Nutrition & Performance Program can benefit athletes of all levels, from recreational runners to professional competitors. Here are a few examples of how we can help:

• Endurance Athletes: We can help endurance athletes optimize their carbohydrate intake, hydration strategies, and electrolyte balance to improve performance and prevent fatigue.
• Strength Athletes: We can guide strength athletes on protein intake, nutrient timing, and supplement strategies to support muscle growth and recovery.
• Team Sports Athletes: We can develop customized nutrition plans for team sports athletes, considering the specific demands of their sport and training schedule.

While our Athletic Nutrition & Performance Program is tailored to your individual needs, it’s important to be mindful of potential challenges:

• Nutrient Deficiencies: Athletes may be at risk for certain nutrient deficiencies, such as iron or calcium, due to increased demands. We’ll monitor your nutrient levels and recommend supplementation if needed.
• Overtraining: Overtraining can lead to fatigue, injury, and hormonal imbalances. We’ll work with you to ensure your training regimen aligns with your nutritional intake and recovery needs.
• Disordered Eating: Athletes may be susceptible to disordered eating patterns. We’ll provide guidance and support to promote a healthy relationship with food and exercise.

At Natural Family Health Clinic, we’re passionate about helping athletes achieve their full potential. Our Athletic Nutrition & Performance Program provides you with the knowledge, tools, and support you need to optimize your performance, enhance your recovery, and achieve your athletic goals while prioritizing your overall health and well-being.