The Benefits of a Nutrition Coaching Program for Runners

As a runner, you put your body through more than the average person. Of course, this has a number of benefits, both for your mental health and for your physical health. However, it is important to continue caring for your body to ensure it has the resources and support it needs to keep running, and also to keep recovering from your runs. One way to do that is by enrolling in a nutritional coaching program. Here are some benefits of such a program for runners.

You'll Learn What Foods to Focus On

Running can make you really hungry, and it's tempting to reach for the first thing that catches your eye. However, the proportion of fats, carbohydrates, and protein that you eat will affect your performance. It is important to select foods that allow you to get enough of each of these macronutrients and not too much of any one of them. A nutrition coach can teach you which foods best fit the mold so you know to reach for those foods most often.

You'll Learn How to Address Nutritional Issues on the Run

Do you sometimes get an upset stomach during workouts? Maybe you're running out of energy before your long runs are over. Sometimes, although not always, these problems arise due to issues with your nutrition or food intake. A nutrition coach can help you get to the bottom of what's causing your running problems and make adjustments to your diet to ease those problems. For example, they may tell you what foods to eat before you run, or how many calories to take in during a long run.

They'll Discourage You from Under Eating

This problem is more common than you might think, particularly with high-mileage runners who torch calories with their workouts. They don't eat quite enough to support their activity, which can lead to exhaustion, over-training, and even a loss of bone density. A nutrition coach will evaluate your overall calorie intake and make sure you're eating enough. If you are not, they can recommend some energy-dense foods to boost your calorie intake, which will help your running performance and overall health.

If you are a runner, remember that what you put in your body has to support your activities. It's not always easy to know what you should eat, when you should eat it, and how much you should eat. Thankfully, a nutrition coach can help with all of that. Contact an expert near you for an insightful nutrition coaching session.