The Hidden Impact of Nutrition in the Sports Arena: Featuring Insights with Kidist Tadesse, PhD Candidate

By Yonatan Ayele, July 9, 2024

In the Sports arena, nutrition has biggest impact on the development of Athletes. It provides the framework for athletes to develop their physical capabilities, endurance and overall performance. For those who participate in competitive sports or other physically demanding activities, proper nutrition is essential as it provides energy to the body and improves athletic performance.

Nutrition in sports involves the study of macro-nutrients, micro-nutrients, hydration, and timing of food intake. For instance, whereas proteins are necessary for muscle growth and repair, carbohydrates are necessary for supplying rapid energy during high-intensity activity. Fats are essential for long duration endurance sports. Furthermore, hydration is essential for preserving optimal performance levels, and vitamins and minerals promote a variety of biological processes, from immunological protection to oxygen transport.

Researches have repeatedly demonstrated that athletes who follow planned diets tend to do better than those who do not pay attention to this part of their training. Optimizing body composition, improving metabolic processes, and lowering the risk of diseases and injuries are all made possible by proper diet. Furthermore, performance and recuperation can be significantly impacted by the timing of nutrient intake—before, during, and after exercise.

To gain a deeper understanding of how nutrition specifically impacts athletic performance, we turn to insights from Kidist Tadesse, a senior medical expert and nutritionist at the Ethiopian Athletics Federation and a PhD candidate.

Kidist earned her first degree in public health and her masters degree with nutrition. She is currently a PhD candidate in clinical nutrition. She has an IOC certificate and works as sports nutrition advisior. For the past eight years, she has served as a senior medical expert in the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, where she prepares nutrition plans for athletes before major sporting events.

Kidist noted that there are two classifications of Sports Nutrition, those are Nutrirtion for Athletes and nutrition for ordinary individuals. Athletes typically have higher energy requirements due to their intense training and competition schedules. Their diets are designed to provide sufficient calories to fuel their activities and support recovery. In contrast, For non-athletes, the focus is on a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods to ensure adequate nutrient intake. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats.

When Kidist explained how she prepares the nutrition plan for the athletes, she mentioned that there are performance and nutrition-related tests conducted in the pre-season. Based on the results, she prepares the athletes' nutrition plans. These plans are not only for the pre-season but also extend throughout the competition period. As we know, Ethiopia has its own distinct cultural foods, so the plans are based on common Ethiopian foods. She revealed that basing the foundation of the plan on Ethiopian foods makes it easier to apply. However, there are also challenges, as the plan needs to be individualized, and Ethiopian culture does not typically allow for such separation during meals because people eat together. Therefore, when the nutrition plans are prepared, athletes often ask, "How can I eat separately from my family?"

According to her, when Athletes are in nutrition plan muscle quality, endurance quality and VO2 max increase is measured. Muscle quality refers to the composition and efficiency of muscle tissue in the body. A nutrition plan designed to enhance the quality of muscles usually centers around maximizing protein consumption to facilitate muscle growth and repair, making sure enough carbohydrates are consumed for energy during exercises, and including essential fats for the general health of the muscles.Endurance quality pertains to an athlete's ability to sustain prolonged physical activity without experiencing exhaustion. This often involves Maintaining hydration, eating foods that promote continuous energy generation, and carbohydrate loading prior to endurance events. VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, measures the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during intense exercise. It serves as a critical indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic capacity. This includes optimizing iron intake for efficient oxygen delivery, consuming carbohydrates to fuel aerobic metabolism, and maintaining hydration to support cardiovascular function.

Kidist emphasizes, "As a sports nutritionist, I often find that our profession does not receive the recognition it truly deserves. We play a crucial role in enhancing athletes' performance.Despite our expertise in optimizing energy levels, supporting recovery, and preventing injuries, our contributions can sometimes be overlooked." She also noted that within a nutrition plan, even a small percentage change in performance is significant. "These small percentage gains can have a substantial impact in the competitive arena," she explained. "Attention to detail is becoming increasingly critical in the sports industry. To compete and excel on the international stage, one must pay an attention to every aspect of an athlete's program."

She also emphasized how professional athletes, whose accomplishments have enhanced the stature of our country, can undergo significant change in their nutritional plans. She pointed out that these athletes are prime examples of how planned diet can improve performance and produce amazing outcomes. Through the application of good dietary plans, these athletes have not only enhanced their physical capacity but also established new benchmarks for performance in their respective sports, gaining Ethiopian pride and international recognition. Kidist continued, "We have witnessed firsthand how these athletes, through effective nutrition plans, have elevated their endurance, strength, and overall performance levels." This change emphasizes how important nutrition is as a key component of being successful in sports. Athletes may fuel their bodies more effectively, recover more quickly, and maintain peak performance during demanding training and competitions by adjusting their food intake.

The role of nutrition in sports cannot be overstated. We've looked at how specialized diet programs can greatly improve athletes' performance through interviews and observations from professionals like Kiddist Tadesse. Nutrition is essential for developing athletic potential since it can improve muscle quality, endurance, and VO2 max. As Kiddist points out, nutrition preparation requires extreme attention to detail, which highlights how crucial it is to gaining a competitive advantage and maintaining peak performance during training and competition.

Additionally, Kidist’s method of incorporating cultural foods into nutrition plan shows the adaptability and effectiveness of personalized strategies. While challenges exist, such as balancing individualized nutrition needs with cultural norms, these are opportunities for innovation and adaptation in sports nutrition practices. A wider understanding of nutrition's influence on performance and long-term health is reflected in the increasing emphasis on it as the foundation of athletic development in the sports sector.

The Olympics, witnessed by the entire globe, stand as the peak of physical success, and competitors can distinguish themselves from the competition by incorporating advanced nutrition practices. Kidist’s observations lead to a greater understanding of the careful preparation and commitment needed to succeed at this level. As we look forward to the world exhibition of skill and perseverance, nutrition plays a fundamental part in determining an athlete's capacity to realize their goals and bring honor to their country.

To the Ethiopian athletes preparing for the upcoming competitions, your commitment to excellence and intense training programs have positioned you as ambassadors on the global stage. As Ethiopia watches with anticipation, may your performances embody the spirit of our nation, inspiring us all with your remarkable achievements.