Reaching your full potential as an athlete takes serious work. It takes consistency. It takes sacrifice. It takes countless hours of strenuous, uncomfortable, exhaustive training. As a former collegiate athlete and Ironman triathlete, I know first-hand the physical and mental demands of performing at a high level, and it’s not easy.

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Whether you are a recreational athlete interested in completing your first 5K run or an Olympian going for gold, most of us would agree that your results are dependent on the physical work you put in day in and day out. Is it just about the training though? While your training frequency, duration, and intensity all factor into your end results, your ability to achieve optimal performance largely relies on another key factor: nutrition. In order to maximize the benefits from all those hours in the gym, on the track, on the pavement, on the court, on the trail, in the pool, or on the field — you need to fuel yourself properly. Nutrition provides your muscles and brain with the necessary fuel to perform at their best; and allows your body to sustain energy and recover efficiently. There is no denying that what you put in your body (or don’t put) can have a direct effect on not only your exercise performance, but overall health.