Nah, it’s not a whackadoodle supplement that promises you everlasting energy or the fountain of youth. Nor is it some superfood or kooky diet that you need in order to be thriving at your best.
It’s called nutrition periodization. <— Whoa - don’t tune out if this term scares you! Stay with me for a few and learn how you could be missing out with this thingamajig in your food life.
Originally developed by Sport Dietitian Bob Seebohar, the concept applies to athlete nutrition. On a basic level, it basically involves altering nutrition patterns to match and support the athlete’s training demands and body composition goals. (FYI, Even though the 2nd edition of Bob’s book is from 2011, there are still a number of important elements from the book that are applicable 10 years later!)
Think of it with this question: “How is my nutrition pattern right now supporting what I am doing and wanting as an athlete?” (You can replace “athlete” with “fitness enthusiast” or even “human being”). And, “how does my nutrition support my health goals and me as an aging individual?”
What I want us all to ponder (no matter whether you are an athlete), is the layering potential we have to our “food life periodization.” In brief:
Minimizing sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass) as we reach our 40s and enter the latter half of our lives (it’s not just protein, bro)
Protecting bone density (particularly for women and the transition to menopause and postmenopausal years where there is a significant change in bone density)
Prevention or management of disease states (got diabetes in your family? heart disease? Alzheimer’s? cancer? What are you doing from a nutritional perspective?)
Brain health (lest we forget, our diet can impact our cognition and focus. And I don’t know about you, but I’d like to keep all the tools in the toolbox as I age)
Physiology (WOMEN! Are you changing your nutrition pattern to support your physiology or are you fighting it? Or worse, thinking that you are doomed because you are a middle-aged woman destined to suffer and experience body changes that you have 0% control over?)
Optimizing your dietary pattern for you switcheruppers (e.g., those of you switching to plant-based/vegan … have you done an assessment with a real nutrition professional to ensure you are meeting your needs? how about optimizing?)
The bottom line is:
How you structure and adjust your nutrition has numerous effects on The Here and Now.. and Your Own Long Haul.
Let’s make it count.
Peace,
Dina