Halupnik 1

Jared Halupnik

English Composition 1201

Prof. Thomas

21 March 2021

How does diet and nutrition affect the body of an athlete, mentally and physically, and why do

such effects occur?

Staying healthy and getting into good shape has been a mainstream focus for many

decades, especially with the growth of social media. Many people spread their own diet plans

and what kinds of supplements they consume throughout their mission to stay healthy. Many

athletes, specifically, focus heavily on their dietary intake and what will help them perform the

best. However, many people do not know the true effects of different types of supplements,

including protein powders, creatine, and pre-workout. Many people consume these supplements

in their diet, but how do they affect the physical and mental aspects of the body?

The body requires many different kinds of nutrients to function properly and help

promote growth when working out. Many sources, including Washington State University, state

that the three main types of nutrients, or macronutrients, include carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

These are typically the most focused upon and well known by athletes. However, they all have

different effects on the body and all play a major role in the growth and development of those

who workout. Carbohydrates provide fuel for intense exercises, preserves protein, and fuels the

brain. Protein is the structure of tissue, makes up enzymes to regulate metabolism, maintain a

neutral acidity in the body, and is involved in hormone systems. Thirdly, fat reserves energy,

protects organs, and provides insulation. As an athlete, it can be observed that carbohydrates and

protein are important when it comes to exercise and working out (Washington State University).
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The source, Washington State University, connects with several other scientific journals

and studies, and provides a basic grounds of understanding for the analysis of the different

effects. Macronutrients tie in with the many different types of supplements that are available on

the market and can create a good connection between supplements and why they are beneficial

or not.

With further analysis, micronutrients also play an important role in how the body

functions under strenuous conditions such as exercise. These micronutrients include a variety of

vitamins, minerals, and also water (Washington State University). Dietary supplements provide

easy access to these micronutrients and can provide benefits such as strong bones and disease

prevention. The National Institutes of Health provides different types of supplements and their

potential effects on the body, relating back to the question being asked. Many popular

supplements such as Vitamin D and B12 and minerals calcium and iron all can be included in the

diet of an individual. As for effects that would take a major role in the health of an athlete, these

supplements prove beneficial when it comes to healthy bones and blood. However, risk is

involved, but a large majority of side effects come from overuse of supplements. This means that

it is essential to monitor intake of different types of nutrients (NIH).

Both, Washington State University and the National Institutes of Health, provide relevant

information that demonstrates how different nutritions play different roles on the body. They

both can be considered reliable sources and they also have similar connections. Washington State

focuses on the different types of macro and micro nutrients and their effects on the body, while

The NIH provides different effects of supplements. Strong points from these sources can be

categorized into potential parts of the answer to the scientific question being asked.
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Furthering on with the focus on nutrients and their supplemental effects, the question can

be asked: in what cases are more nutrients required for the body? In the study to investigate the

effects of high energy diets, done by Pedagogy Studies, physical fitness can be defined as the

condition of an athlete that enables them to achieve results in a competitive environment. This

requires training, mentally and physically, and mainly depends on physical activity, rest, and

nutrition. Connecting back to the previous two sources, nutrition plays an important role in the

physical fitness of an athlete. The diet of an athlete includes different types of intake of nutrients,

and one diet consists of a higher-energy intake. The study demonstrated that greater progress was

found in athletes who followed a diet that provided more energy, meaning more consumption of

the different nutrients (Pedagogy Studies).

Understanding the negative effects of macronutrients are also an essential feature in the

analysis of the different effects of nutrition. In a study done by Fabrizio Ferretti and Michele

Mariani, carbohydrates are analyzed deeper and are connected to the rise of obesity. As an

athlete, or an individual in general, the goal is to be as healthy as possible, meaning ensuring a

diet that reduces the chance of being overweight. The results of the study shows that simple and

complex carbohydrates played a major role in the impact of the country’s prevalence of those

who are obsese. Throughout the study, the effects of carbohydrates on the fat content of the body

are studied and it is shown that carbohydrates can lead to an increase of fat levels. While sources

such as Washington State and NIH provide reasoning that nutrients are very important for the

body, the study done by Ferretti and Mariani demonstrates how the intake of carbohydrates must

be regulated (Ferretti and Mariani).

On a final note, youth athletes are also an important part of the answer to the topic at

hand. At different age levels, different nutrition and diets are required due to the different growth
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patterns. In a magazine article focused on sports nutrition for youth sport coaches, dietary

supplements are mentioned. However, in contrast to what the previous sources mentioned, the

article is against the inclusion of dietary supplements in the diet of youth athletes. It is mentioned

that these supplements should only be provided under the prescription of a doctor due to the

potential risk that the vitamin or mineral supplements may have. It is heavily suggested that

supplements involving protein, creatine, and energy, should not be necessary in the diet of a

youth athlete. Instead these nutrients should be consumed through food that is easier to moderate

and provides better nutrients (Holden and Baghurst). This source provides a new insight into the

question at hand and plays an important role when it comes to the process of answering the

question. The article introduces a new perspective to the topic by discussing the different effects

based on age level.

Across these sources an overarching answer can be drawn to answer the question being

asked. It is clear that nutrition is an essential part of an athletes performance and growth, but it

seems that an understanding of why certain nutrients are required plays a major role in the

answer. Overuse of dietary supplements can cause risk and dangerous side effects, making it

necessary to understand why different minerals, vitamins, and macronutrients have the effects

that they do. Furthermore, more research needs to be done to understand the why behind the

effects of the different nutrients and if supplementation should be an inclusion to the diet of

athletes.
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Works Cited

Ferretti, Fabrizio, and Michele Mariani. “Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrate Dietary

Patterns and the Global Overweight and Obesity Pandemic.” International Journal

of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 4 Oct. 2017,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664675/.

Holden, Shelley L., and Timothy M. Baghurst. Sports Nutrition : A Guide for Youth Sport

Coaches. Nova Science Publishers, Inc, 2016. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1345679&site=ehost-live.

“Office of Dietary Supplements - Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know.” NIH

Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WYNTK-Consumer/.

“Washington State University.” Nutrition Basics | at WSU, mynutrition.wsu.edu/nutrition-

basics.

Yerzhanova, Yeldana, et al. “Can a High-Energy Diet Affect the Physical Fitness of Elite

Athletes?” Pedagogy Studies / Pedagogika, vol. 139, no. 3, July 2020, pp. 239–252.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.15823/p.2020.139.12.