Key Point: Eat healthy foods and adjust your intake to your activity level while you have to stay at home.
If you are a student athlete, you are likely facing a lot of uncertainty during the COVID 19 crisis. Will my sport resume this season? Will my sport start on time next season? How can I keep in playing condition during quarantine?
Each of you will have a coach who will direct you about specific suggestions for working out at home. If you have a yard, you can try to duplicate drills that you are used to performing with your team. There are also plenty of videos available for running drills, stick handling drills, throwing drills, etc.
One BIG way that you can help yourself while stuck at home is to eat as well as possible. Don’t let a stay at home order become an excuse for a junk food free for all. Here are 5 tips for keeping strong and healthy by eating well.

1. Quality counts. Look for lean proteins, lots of veggies, healthy carbs and fats just like you would during the season. Snack on fruit, whole grain crackers, nut butters, veggies, hummus, or cheese sticks, not chips and candy.
2. Portion control is needed now. You are probably much less active than you would be during training and competition. Start off with smaller than usual portions, and stop to assess how hungry you are before taking a second portion.
3. Watch your drinks. Now is probably NOT a good time for sodas, energy drinks, or a lot of juice. Stay hydrated with water or possibly sports drink if you have a hard workout or if it is hot.
4. Learn to cook! This is a great time to learn, especially if you have a parent at home who can teach you how to make some of your favorites. Otherwise, check out some of the many how-to videos that are available. I think every athlete should know how to make are rice, pasta, grilled cheese sandwiches, scrambled eggs/omelets, and stir fries!
5. Maintain immunity. This is really a variation on quality counts. Generally speaking being active improves immunity. (Over- training can negatively affect immunity.) For plenty of nutrients associated with good immune function, eat these foods: citrus fruits (vitamin C), winter squash/spinach/Swiss chard/kale/sweet potatoes (vitaminA), fish /lean meats/poultry/legumes (protein, iron, B vitamins), milk fortified with vitamin D, whole grains and fermented foods like yogurt (for a healthy gut.)

Looking forward to the time when you are all back in action!
Nutrition Insider’s Tip: Look for brightly colored fruits and vegetables as these tend to have a high nutrient content. Think blueberries, spinach, beets, oranges, sweet potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, etc.
© 2020 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD

Key Points: A high carbohydrate + hydrogel sports drink did not improve performance in a study of elite XC skiers.

Have you been wondering whether using a hydrogel sports drink would improve your cross country skiing performance? In the past several years researchers have looked at the addition of alginate or pectin to sports drinks to increase available carbohydrate to support intense endurance activities.  Alginate and pectin can form a gel when exposed to stomach acid, and theoretically can allow ingestion of high amounts of carbs with less gastrointestinal (GI) distress. At least one commercial sports drink (Maurten) has embraced this technology.
This is one area where there is actually an XC specific study! In 2019, Pettersson et al, of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, looked at the effect of using a high carbohydrate (CHO) drink with added alginate and pectin (hydrogel) on performance in elite male and female biathletes and XC skiers.  The 12 subjects completed 120 minutes of diagonal-style roller-skiing followed by a double poling time trial. Researchers looked at rates of burning CHO and fat, blood glucose and lactate levels, ratings of GI discomfort, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE.) (RPE is the athlete’s rating of how much physical effort their performance required.)
Analysis of the results showed that using the high CHO + hydrogel vs. a placebo drink led to increased burning of carbohydrate from the drink and decreased burning of fat, while preserving muscle and liver glycogen. (This is consistent with studies of other athletes.) There were no differences between drinks in GI discomfort or RPE.
The authors conclude that the high CHO drink with hydrogel was well tolerated and might be helpful to meet CHO intake recommendations without a large fluid intake. Since the cold environment of skiing may mean lower sweat rates, this is a potential benefit. There was, however, no improvement in the time trial performance with use of the experimental beverage.
The bottom line is that you might find a hydrogel sports drink helpful to maintain your fueling, but there is no evidence that it will improve your performance.

© 2020 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD
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Reference: Pettersson S et al. Effects of supplementing with an 18%carbohydrate-hydrogel drink versus a placebo during whole-body exercise in -5°C with elite cross-country ski athletes: a crossover study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2019, 16:46 

Key Points: Sleep around 8 hours/night, eat vegetables, eat fish!
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A study of Swedish elite adolescent athletes demonstrated decreased likelihood of injury in those with a healthy diet and adequate sleep. This interesting study highlights the importance of general health habits in keeping teen athletes on the snow. 

The study subjects were 340 athletes attending National Sports High Schools. About 30% were snow sport athletes, including 72 cross-country skiers (39 men and 33 women), 12 downhill skiers (5 men and 7 women), 10 free-style skiers (8 men and 2 women), and 8 ski-orienteering athletes (4 men and 4 women.)

The athletes were surveyed in the autumn and again in the spring. Most athletes got enough sleep on the weekends, but 18.5% did not meet the sleep target of at least 8 hours/night during the week.

Diet shortfalls were in consumption of fruits and vegetables and fish. Almost 40% of athletes did not eat enough vegetables. (Nutrition intake was assessed by the Swedish Nutrition Food Agency index.)

This study was unique in looking at multiple variables that can affect risk of injury. Those athletes who slept more than 8 hours/day on weekdays AND met recommended nutrition intake had a significantly reduced risk of injury.  (Injury was defined as physical complaints or pain resulting in decreased training volume, difficulty participating in normal training or competition, or reduced performance.)

How does this translate into every day practice? It looks like it is really important to be sure to get enough sleep! The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8-10 hours of sleep daily for teens aged 14-17. For those 18-25 years old the recommendation is 7-9 hours a day. Getting enough sleep may require careful organization to try to complete school assignments during the day where possible. For serious athletes sleep should be prioritized over social media time.

For the healthy eating piece, planning is helpful. Know when and how you will get your meals and snacks each day. Think about how to fit more vegetables into your usual meals. At breakfast sauté some spinach with your scrambled eggs or add a grilled tomato on the side. At lunch add some veggies to your sandwich – baby spinach, tomato slices, cucumber slices, lettuce, onions, and even shredded carrots are good on sandwiches. Choose vegetable side dishes like raw veggies, coleslaw, side salads, roasted veggies, or vegetable soup. At dinner be sure to include an ample portion of steamed veggies. For snacks try celery with peanut butter or raw veggies with hummus.

In this study a healthy diet also meant adequate fish consumption, and 43% of athletes did not meet the target. Fish is a great lean protein source and also supplies omega 3 fatty acids that play a role in reduced inflammation. Try a scoop of tuna on a salad or a tuna salad sandwich. Foil pouches of tuna are also convenient for snacks, and are tasty with some whole grain crackers like Triscuits. Grilled salmon or shrimp are popular dinner choices.

For help developing YOUR personalized nutrition plan, contact ksearles@snowtrition.com.

Reference: von Rosen P, Frohm A, Kottorp a, Friden C, Hejne A. Too little sleep and an unhealthy diet could increase the risk of sustaining a new injury in adolescent elite athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2016. ​doi: 10.1111/sms.12735

© 2019 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD

Snow season is here and it's a great time to take a look at eating strategies to keep you on the slopes! Tendons (which attach muscle to bone)  and ligaments (which attach bone to bone) are made of collagen. Foods that support collagen formation may be beneficial to strong joints, ligaments and tendons.

There are several nutrients that support collagen synthesis.
* Proline, hydroxyproline, lysine and hydroxylysine are amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Gelatin contains ample amounts of these particular amino acids.
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* Vitamin C works with amino acids to create collagen. You can get plenty of Vitamin C from citrus fruits, melons, berries, kiwi, and dark green leafy vegetables.
*Flourine/fluoride is a mineral that supports tendons and ligaments. It is found in fluoridated water, tea, and fish.
* Copper is another mineral that may be helpful. Dark leafy greens, dried fruits (prunes), cocoa and black pepper contain copper.

​Check out this information sheet from the National Athletic Trainers Association.

Try one or more of these tasty options to support your tendons and ligaments:
Breakfast: 
- include a bowl of orange and grapefruit sections with sliced kiwi
- try a strawberry or cantaloupe/blueberry smoothie and blend in some baby spinach leaves
- enjoy a cup of hot tea 

Lunch:
- be sure to add some spinach or romaine to your sandwich
- try some jello with fruit as dessert
- add a cup of homemade broth made from bones

Dinner:
- add a salad of dark green leafy vegetables and citrus sections
- enjoy some fish seasoned liberally with pepper and lemon

​© 2018 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN

My local co-op grocery store has been featuring microgreens from several local farmers this winter. They have made a delicious addition to our winter salads, sandwiches, omelets and frittatas. I especially like the mixes which contain spicy radish greens.

I first learned about microgreens at the farmer’s market in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Microgreens are plant seedlings that are harvested one to two weeks after germination. They have two cotyledon leaves, the leaves that first appear when a plant sprouts. They have a crispy texture and the flavor varies from mild to spicy depending on the type of seed.

The Alabama growers were excited to promote microgreens as nutritional powerhouses. It turns out that nutritional research supports this enthusiasm. Dr. Carolyn F. Weber, of Des Moines University, found that microgreens (in this study from broccoli) have more magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc than mature vegetables. She said that you could eat about 40% less broccoli microgreens than broccoli florets for the same amount of nutrients.

The nutrient content of microgreens is influenced by how they are grown. Dr. Weber found that microgreens grown in compost were more nutritious than microgreens grown hydroponically. Being plants, microgreens are also sources of the polyphenolic compounds that act as anti-oxidants for our cells. Scientists are finding that the anti-oxidant concentration can be changed by manipulating the type and duration of light the seedlings receive.

Food scientists are very interested in microgreens because they can contribute a lot of nutrition without a lot of input. They require about half the water of a full grown vegetable, and do not need pesticides. There is even the possibility of growing microgreens in space to provide vital food sources of anti-oxidants for astronauts!

Microgreens can be a great addition for the winter sport athlete. The vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidant compounds support your immune system and help combat inflammation. As noted above, I have used them on sandwiches (pictured below), on salads, and in egg dishes. Other suggestions include sprinkling onto a just baked pizza or a bowl of soup. They would also work well in smoothies.

​ Let me know how you use your microgreens on the Snowtrition Facebook group!

© 2018 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD

​Participants started at 3 AM with a 3 mile mountain bike ride covering 3,100 vertical feet. From there they watched the sunrise and skied the Fourth of July bowl, noted for snow that lingers into summer. This was followed with a 10 K run and then a 25 mile lap of the Firecracker 50 mountain bike race (which covers 4,000 vertical feet). 

The approximately 12 hour day culminated with a traditional Fourth of July picnic.  Participants touted their anticipation of celebrating the finish with an ice cold beer. My sports nutritionist mind thinks recovery, so I started brainstorming which picnic foods would be helpful. 

What's a Fourth of July picnic without a burger? Recovery foods provide fluids, electrolytes, carbs, and protein. A burger is a great source of protein plus carbohydrates from the bun. Alternatively, grilled chicken and some pasta salad would provide protein and carbs. For vegetarians, baked beans would do the trick. These foods will also provide some sodium and potassium.

A great picnic food choice is watermelon. It has a high water content, carbs, and antioxidant carotenoids including lycopene. Training at altitude and competing in endurance events both create oxidative stress, and dietary antioxidants may decrease inflammation and improve immune function.

But what about the beer? A couple of years ago, scientists at the University of Granada in Spain decided to see if beer was effective for rehydrating athletes.  They found that up to 660 ml (about two 12 ounce servings) of regular beer (4.5% alcohol content) along with water as desired to meet thirst was as effective as just water for rehydrating. Compared to sports drinks beer does not have as much carbohydrate or sodium, so try adding a salty snack like some chips or pretzels.

So, if you are like Joe Howdyshell, who says, “Me and some of my friends like to do these crazy adventure things,” go for it and have fun with your nutritional recovery too!

​© 2017 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD
 

This post was originally written in 2015, just after a visit to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs! It was fun to meet and learn from the  USOC dietitians.

Olympic athletes struggle with finding quick, easy and nutritious foods to fuel their activities just like the rest of us. Yesterday the Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs opened their kitchen to other RDNs attending the SCAN (Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition) conference. We had 15 minutes working together to prepare some athlete friendly snacks.
What do the Olympic RDN’s look for when helping athletes create recipes? Ease of preparation is key. “Hungry athletes want to eat food, not prepare food,” says Susie Parker Simmons, sports dietitian at the USOC. She looks for recipes that contain nutrients such as calcium or fiber. Some of the recipes are so simple that they could be prepared in a hotel room, important for athletes traveling for competitions.
In the test kitchen yesterday we made homemade energy bars, several nutrient packed dips and skewers of cut up fruits.  Here is the recipe for “No Bake Energy Bites”:
1 cup dry oatmeal (dry old-fashioned oats)
2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup ground flax seed
½ cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs
1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 
Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed Roll into balls of whatever size you would like. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

​© 2017 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN

​It won't be long before the sap rises and maple syrup season arrives. I tried a few maple themed products from New England that can be used for sports fueling and hydration.

Drink Maple is described as "pure maple water, straight from the tree." It is from Concord, MA and is marketed as a sports drink. An 8 ounce portion has 25 Calories, 6 grams of carbohydrate, and 40% of the daily manganese requirement. (Manganese does not have any particular known benefit for athletic performance.) This product has a little more body and sweetness than plain water.

Untapped, based in Richmond, VT, offers maple waffles and 1 ounce packets of maple syrup. The waffles are made with organic maple syrup and have 140 Calories and 20 grams of carbohydrate. They are a little drier and crumblier than I expected, but the maple flavor was pleasant. The Slopeside Syrup is billed as "all natural athletic fuel" and has 100 Calories, 26 grams of carbohydrate, and 60% of the daily manganese requirement. These could be used as carb sources during cross-country skiing, running,  cycling, or other activity.

Brown Cow maple whole milk yogurt is distributed by Stonyfield yogurt in Londonderry, NH. It provides 130 Calories, 23 grams carbohydrate, and 5 g protein. It is a "cream top" yogurt with a pleasant mpale flavor. It would make a good recovery snack.

If you are looking for a change from standard sports drinks and gels give one of these a try!

​© 2017 Kathleen Searles, MS, RDN, CSSD, LDN