Nutrition
What you eat can have significant effects on your health. Student-athletes need to realize that a pregame meal won’t necessarily make or break a performance, but their overall daily diets certainly can. In most cases, a well-rounded diet consisting of a variety of colors, textures and flavors meets the nutritional needs of the student-athlete. Pregame meals are very individualized; not all athletes are comfortable eating the same foods. While athletes should be allowed to eat foods that allow them to physically and psychologically prepare for competition, science has shown the benefits of the following recommendations:
- Allow stomach to be relatively empty at start of competition (eat about 3-4 hours before competition)
- Help prevent/minimize gastrointestinal distress (avoid new foods or foods that don’t agree with you before activity)
- Help avoid sensations of hunger, lightheadedness or fatigue (eat enough that you’re not hungry, but don’t overeat)
- Provide adequate fuel supplies, primarily carbohydrates, in blood and muscles
- Provide adequate amount of water
- What to Choose: Pregame Meal Guide (PDF)
- Sports Nutrition Information and Resources
Dietary Supplements
The St. Norbert College medical staff does not support the use of dietary supplements for our student-athletes since the supplements are not well-regulated. There have been cases of athletes worldwide who have tested positive and lost their eligibility due to supplementation. Any product containing a dietary supplement is taken at your own risk. Please check with St. Norbert medical staff or use the resources below to check the following before taking any substance:
- Does your usual diet provide enough nutrition for your personal needs?
- Is the supplement banned by the NCAA? (Some products sold legally are banned by the NCAA.)
- Is there evidence of a safety issue? (Reports issued by USDA for recalls or unsafe products.)
- Is there evidence of third-party verification for truth in labeling? (Verified by a third-party like U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), ConsumerLab.com, etc.)
- Is there evidence of efficacy?
Resources
