Advanced Youth Sports Nutrition

Staying on top of the latest sports nutrition information is a challenge. That's why our longtime nutrition expert makes a point of attending the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to learn the latest thinking from leading exercise scientists from around the globe.

Athletes tend to do a good job of training their muscles, heart and lungs. But some (particularly endurance athletes and those in running sports) commonly fail to train their gut to accommodate performance enhancing carbs and water. That way, they can train better - hence compete better - without stressing about undesired pit stops.

In this era of highly competitive sports, athletes are always looking for ways to fuel optimally. Performance nutrition is also of interest to military personnel. Our longtime sports nutrition expert reports from this year's annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine on recent nutrition research from both civilian and military exercise scientists.

It's no secret that disordered eating practices are common among weight-conscious athletes. A top sports dietitian has some helpful tips for making weight healthfully.

For athletes who routinely train hard 4 to 6 days a week, carbs enhance performance and should be the foundation of each meal. Research-based recommendations for an optimal sports diet include far more carbs than you may realize, says sports nutrition expert Nancy Clark.

It isn't just the average person who has quirky eating habits. Elite athletes like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt do, too.

The American College of Sports Medicine 2013 Annual Meeting was chock-full of useful nutrition information. In the second in a series of articles, sports nutritionist Nancy Clark discusses some additional research findings from the meeting.

Genetics plays a powerful role in why some athletes have so much trouble gaining weight (and keeping it on). Although you cannot change your child's genetics and their tendency to fidget, you can boost their calorie intake. Here are five tips on how to help your child bulk-up healthfully and save money in the process.