Sports Dietitians Australia Position Statement: Nutrition for Exercise in Hot Environments
McCubbin AJ, Allanson BA, Caldwell Odgers JN, Cort MM, Costa RJS, Cox GR, Crawshay ST, Desbrow B, Freney EG, Gaskell SK, Hughes D, Irwin C, Jay O, Lalor BJ, Ross MLR, Shaw G, Périard JD, Burke LM. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2020 Dec 31:1-16. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2019-0300. [Epub ahead of print]
”It is the position of Sports Dietitians Australia that exertional heat stress can significantly affect an athlete’s nutritional status, but careful planning and implementation of nutrition strategies can assist him or her to optimize health and performance outcomes in such conditions. The following position statement summarizes these issues and the nutrition and hydration strategies with which they can be addressed.” The authors discuss the physiological effects of exertional heat stress, effects of exertional heat stress on performance and health; heat acclimation and acclimatization; fluid and electrolyte balance during exertional heat stress and acclimation; hydration and electrolyte status assessment; strategies for fluid and electrolyte intake before, during, and after exercise; nutritional pre- and per-cooling strategies during exercise; other nutritional strategies to enhance thermal comfort; practical implementation of nutrition plans for the heat.