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Planet Field Hockey

TORONTO - There is no doubt that what an athlete eats and drinks plays a significant role in performance. A joint position paper released today by Dietitians of Canada, the American Dietetic Association and the American College of Sports Medicine, and endorsed by the Coaching Association of Canada, details the most current science on nutrition and athletic performance. This position paper provides important guidance for nutrition and health professionals and coaches, in optimizing nutritional intake for both the elite and recreational athlete.

In endorsing this position statement on behalf of the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), Dr. Marielle Ledoux, Registered Dietitian and Chair of CAC's Sport Nutrition Advisory Committee says, "Athletes and their coaches are understandably looking for the best advice on diet and exercise performance to gain that competitive edge. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation associated with sport nutrition. As the interest in this specialized field has increased, so has the sale of performance-enhancing (ergogenic) aids, supplements, herbal preparations and diet aids. These products alone have little, if any, effect on achievement of top performance. At the very least, many of these substances are an unnecessary expense, and at worst, some may not be safe to use."

Dr. Susan Barr, co-author of the position paper, notes, "Every competitive and recreational athlete needs adequate energy, fluids and nutrients to perform at his or her best. One of the biggest challenges facing athletes is choosing a healthy diet, given a demanding schedule of training and competition. Athletes with nutritional savvy follow these guidelines for healthy eating:

- Eat a wide variety of foods based on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy
Eating
- Balance food intake with energy needs to promote a healthy body weight
- Ensure proper fluid intake to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance
- Time food and fluid intake in relation to training and competition
- Seek expert advice on the use of supplements and ergogenic aids"

A Registered Dietitian (RD), with expertise in sport nutrition, is the most qualified food and nutrition professional to assist athletes and coaches to sort the facts from the myths that prevail in sport nutrition.

An RD is also skilled in tailoring an eating plan to meet athletes' unique training and competitive needs.

For trusted information on sport nutrition and a variety of other nutrition topics, or to find a registered dietitian in your area in Canada, visit Dietitians of Canada award winning web site at http://www.dietitians.ca.

Dietitians of Canada represents 5000 dietitians nation-wide, providing a trusted voice for consumers regarding food and healthy eating. The American Dietetic Association represents 70,000 food and nutrition professionals across the United States of America, serving the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. With more than 18,000 members world-wide, ACSM is dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research, education and practical application of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health and quality of life.

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