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Prof Elliott-Sale on Menstrual Cycle Nutrition

Prof Elliott-Sale on Menstrual Cycle Nutrition

Alfie Gordon & pninsider
April 28, 2025

PN—INSIDER

Expert Opinion

PHASE-BASED NUTRITION

Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale cuts through the hype of phase-based nutrition with refreshing honesty in her recent Performance Nutrition Network interview.

"It worries me that people are reading books where they think nutritional demands are so discrete to a phase," she warns. "The science is not there."

Data Professor Elliott-Sale presented shows approximately 50% use hormonal contraceptives.

Even for naturally cycling athletes, the idealised 28-day cycle with day-14 ovulation rarely exists.

"The only regularity of the menstrual cycle is its irregularity” - Ludwig Fränkel (1929).

She demonstrates this with real athlete data showing ovulation varies dramatically between women and even within an individual from cycle to cycle.

Ovulation is not a set point.

This makes universal phase-based protocols practically impossible to implement.

"For some athletes, they'll have no effect. But for those who are affected, where we see a pattern, that's when nutritionists can intervene."

Track symptoms for at least three cycles. Look for consistent patterns. Then provide targeted nutritional interventions for specific symptoms in specific phases.

We strongly encourage you to check out this webinar.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW AND SAVE 25% OFF WITH CODE “PNNMEMBER25” →

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