Functional Sports Nutrition

Functional Sports Nutrition (FSN) effectively combines the knowledge of two very different fields of nutrition within a sporting model: the practical, quantitative and food-based Sports Nutrition and the integrative, qualitative and body-systems approach of Nutritional Therapy.

The concept of Functional Sports Nutrition recognises the bio-individual needs of each athlete and the connectivity of all body systems, meaning that they somehow work together. Body systems that are of interest to an athlete may include: the immune system; digestion and detoxification; nerves and hormones (communication); the musculoskeletal system; and brain chemicals for mental focus and balance. By attending to the health of these systems, which is obtained by appropriate nutritional and lifestyle strategies, we support the base of sporting performance. Once good health is in place, we can consider performance-based nutrition, which considers macronutrient and micronutrient balance plus timings of food and fluid consumption around training exertions and competition – these are key concepts of the existing Sports Nutrition literature. Sports supplements such as drinks, recovery formulas and ergogenic (performance-enhancing) aids, when used in a scientific way, can then complete the nutritional requirements of the sports person.

Education

In terms of education, Ian Craig runs an annual post-graduate 6-day course at the Centre for Nutrition Education in Berkshire, UK. “The Competitive Athlete” as it’s called, is now in its 5th Year. Click Here for dates and further information. Ian also runs a workshop series for Stellenbosch University Sports Performance Institute once or twice a year.

Additionally, Laurent Bannock runs a Guru Performance 3-day Nutrition Workshop, which teaches the same systems and tools that have helped recreational and professional athletes achieve success worldwide. His focus is to bridge the gap between the science and the methods needed for practitioner to refine their specialised skills and help your clients and athletes towards peak performance. Click Here for dates and further information.

Literature

In literature, 2009 saw the launch of the Functional Sports Nutrition Journal in the UK. It originated as a journal and was changed to a magazine after a few issues to appeal to a wider audience. Ian Craig became editor of the magazine for the November/December 2010 issue. It is an exciting time in applied sports nutrition as more and more sports people are giving attention to their nutrition and the advent of “functional foods” like beetroot juice could completely change the face of the sports nutrition market place.

One of the primary goals of the Craig Coaching website is to stimulate discussion around this new field of Functional Sports Nutrition. Please view our blog (link to blog) and contribute to the topics that will be aired over the coming months and years. We will be recruiting some great minds to contribute to topical subjects in sport and it is with your participation that we can create a mass action effect in the way that sports nutrition is practiced.

Practitioners of FSN

FSN is a very new area of exploration within sports and is therefore isolated to a few nutritionists who work a bit differently to the norm. Here’s some links to the websites of practitioners and educators who are actively contributing to the field of FSN:

Laurent Bannock
Pete Williams
Christine Bailey
Adam Carey
Stephen Hines
Paul Chamberlain
Antony Haynes
Alex Ferretti