Sports Nutritionist in the St. Louis Area, Missouri, and Illinois
Get Nutrition Therapy and Coaching for Athletes from Missouri and Illinois to Achieve Optimal Performance in Sports
What is a sports nutritionist?
A sports nutritionist or dietitian is a healthcare worker who specializes in providing nutrition guidance and support to professional athletes, school athletes, competition athletes, sports models, fitness enthusiasts, and more.
At Branz Nutrition Counseling, we provide online and in-person sports nutrition therapy in our offices in the St. Louis Area. We can work with athletes, coaches, and teams to help them improve their nutrition status.
By working with a dietitian on our team, one who specializes in sports, athletes can:
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​Optimize Performance
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Improve recovery
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Get Evidence-Based Diet Plans, Snack Plans, and Practices
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Understand hydration needs
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Improve their relationship with food and body
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Challenge sport-specific body stereotypes
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Provide nutrition therapy to achieve recovery for disordered eating and eating disorders in athletes
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Get help with medical needs
What is the role of nutrition in sports?
A sports RD can help optimize nutrition to enhance athletic performance, support training adaptations, and promote recovery while preventing injury. Nutrition in sports is key for the following reasons:
Energy Supply: Nutrition fuels athletic performance with adequate calories from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Muscle Repair and Growth: Nutrition supports muscle recovery and development, especially through protein intake.
Hydration: Nutrition includes maintaining optimal hydration for endurance, strength, and overall performance.
Endurance and Stamina: An individualized sport-specific diet plan prolongs energy levels during physical activity.
Immune Function: Nutrition is key to strengthening the immune system, and reducing the risk of illness and injury.
Recovery: A dietitian can help athletes implement a nutrition plan to accelerate recovery post-exercise, minimizing muscle soreness.
Mental Focus: Nutrition is fundamental for concentration, focus, and decision-making during competition.
Injury Prevention: Nutrition plans, developed by a sports dietitian, will support joint and bone health, reducing the risk of sports-related injuries.
Performance Optimization: The ultimate goal of a diet plan with a sports nutritionist is to tailor dietary interventions to the specific demands of different sports for peak performance.
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Work with a sports nutritionist and learn how and what to eat for training, sporting events, and recovery. Improve your nutrition status and athletic performance with a diet plan tailored to your specific sport and nutrition needs.
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We look forward to working with you!
What is the difference between sports nutrition and general nutrition?
Athletes are considered a different population therefore, they have different needs than the general public. Sports nutrition focuses on an athlete's unique health needs due to the extra physical demands they face and their performance.
Sports RD’s can provide individual nutrition counseling and personalized meal plans. They offer practical strategies to help athletes remain competitive while maintaining optimal health.
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General dietitians provide nutritional counseling to individuals across a broad range of populations, ages, and health conditions by providing personalized meal plans and offering practical strategies to help individuals maintain optimal health.
How much does a sports nutritionist cost?
We accept most major insurance companies and the majority of our clients pay little to nothing outside of copays or deductibles to meet with a member of our team. We also offer military discounts as we are not in network with Tricare. We always recommend checking your insurance benefits regarding nutrition coverage as coverage depends on the patient's individual insurance plan.