How to support athletes unique gut challenges?

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Expert Opinion - Gut health is everything

Sophie Medlin, a leading dietitian and head of research for Heights, recently shared her insights in a Performance Nutrition Network interview.

70% of your immune system lives in your gut, and it’s connected to your brain through 5 million neurons.

A healthy gut microbiome means better nutrient absorption, stronger immunity, and reduced inflammation.

But athletes face unique gut challenges—IBS, travel issues, exercise-induced GI distress.

Stress, intense training, poor sleep, and menstrual cycles can all wreak havoc on gut health. Reduced blood flow to the gut during intense exercise only adds to the problem.

How to support your gut?

• Probiotics: Maintain microbiome balance, boost immunity.

• Prebiotics: Found in plant foods, feed good gut bacteria.

• Heights Biotic Plus: A probiotic supplement designed for athletes, supporting immunity, gut-brain health, and reducing inflammation.

• Kiwi Fruit: Enzymes that support digestion.

Chronic constipation? Try Sophie’s gut-friendly recipe: blend 2 whole kiwis (with skin), 2 dessert spoons of chia seeds (soaked overnight), and add 2-4 teaspoons of... Watch the full interview here to learn more. Receive 25% off for life with code “PNNMEMBER25”

Key takeaway: A diverse, plant-rich diet is crucial for maintaining a healthy gut. And remember—the gut-brain axis has a direct impact on managing anxiety and stress.

Market Opportunity - Hyrox

Top Pick:

Why Hyrox’s Rapid Growth is a Game-Changer for Performance Nutritionists

Our Take:

Hyrox is no longer niche—it’s mainstream. This shift is a golden opportunity for performance nutritionists ready to make an impact.

Here’s why this is worth your attention:

1. Hyrox blends endurance, strength, and speed. This demands specialised nutrition—generic plans fail here.

2. Tailored nutrition = performance gains. Athletes need individualised strategies to compete and recover at peak levels.

3. With 210,000 participants and growing, Hyrox athletes need ongoing guidance, offering long-term, consistent income for coaches.

Your Move:

Be proactive. Position yourself as the go-to Hyrox nutrition expert in your local area. Share insights, create content, and demonstrate your expertise before others catch up.

The time to build authority is now.

Resource Roundup

A curated list of helpful links, resources, or reads. Top 3 Nutrition X-Change articles.

• Nutrition X-Change Vol. 9 - Sodium Bicarbonate: More Than Just Baking Powder – Explores the benefits of sodium bicarbonate supplementation for buffering lactic acid and enhancing sports performance.

• Nutrition X-Change Vol. 7 - Ramadan and Sports Performance – A guide to optimising sports performance and nutrition during the fasting month of Ramadan.

• Nutrition X-Change Vol. 5 - Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids – A detailed overview of omega-3s and their role in reducing inflammation and improving athletic recovery.

From the Community

This Week’s Shoutout:

A member asked for advice on sharing nutrition information via WhatsApp groups—whether to use a separate group or keep it in the main chat.

Key Insights:

• Some use both a nutrition-focused group and the main group to ensure information reaches everyone.

• A suggestion was made to use a private Instagram account to invite players, but concerns around safeguarding were raised.

• Another approach was to create a "performance" chat for S&C, nutrition, and sleep, limiting posts to 3-4 per week to avoid overwhelming members.

Join the discussion here. Receive 25% off for life with code “PNNMEMBER25”

High-Impact Careers & How to Get There

Job Opportunity:

Nutritionist (0.1 FTE) at Crystal Palace FC – St Mary’s University and TASS sought a qualified nutritionist to deliver in-season guidance to players in Crystal Palace women's academy (U16/U21). Work closely with the multi-disciplinary team to support health and performance.

Competency Improvement:

Workshop Delivery for Young Athletes

Tip: Enhance workshops by incorporating interactive elements. Use ChatGPT to generate creative ideas for visualising key nutrition concepts—like using infographics for macronutrient breakdowns or interactive quizzes to engage players on hydration strategies.

Live job board: Find more high-impact jobs here.

Challenge of the week

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." – Maya Angelou

Reflect on a client’s current fuelling strategy. Is there an opportunity for improvement based on new information or data? This week, apply a small change based on your latest knowledge, such as adjusting protein timing, and observe how it benefits their performance.

Upcoming event

Learn the secrets to becoming a strategic, operational, and deliberate nutritionist. Join Dr. Chris Rosimus and Dr. James Morehen for three live webinars sharing elite sports insights, strategies, and tools.

Sign up here.