Sports Nutrition

Health Management has a strong history with sport in Cairns and the Tablelands. 

We live by the motto that excellence is geographically irrelevant, and this is why we aim to provide expert sports nutrition advice to athletes and weekend warriors around the region. We are the official dietitians to the CQU Cairns Taipans

We work with elite athletes and beginners to help them go further, faster and do it easier. We will assess your current diet and body composition and formulate a meal plan to help you achieve: 

• Weight and body composition goals for your sport

• Recovery Nutrition

• Race day nutrition 

• Training nutrition (the most important for overall performance)

• Travel nutrition 

• Sports Supplements & Ergogenic Aids

• Level 2 anthropometry (skinfolds and measurements)

If you are planning a goal or adventure, it is best to contact us early. Your training nutrition is just as important as your race day nutrition, and when we get this right, you will train better, achieve your goals easier, go faster and recover better.

 Our clients have achieved fantastic results:

• Making Olympic and Paralympic teams 

• Being drafted to the NBA & AFL

• Representing Australia at World Championships

• Bodybuilding and figure athletes - Winning regional championships

• Qualifying for Kona ironman

• Completing Half Marathons, Marathons and Ultra Marathons

• Completing Half Ironmans and Ironman races

• Swim the English Channel

• Run the Marathon Des sables

• Trek from Antarctica to South Pole and back (90 days unassisted)

• Race Across America Cycle (12 days of cycling for 20 hours per day)

• Achieving something they never thought they could do. 

• Climbed Mt Cook & Mt Everest

Are you suffering from fatigue or overtraining? - You may be suffering from RED-S:

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) is a relatively new concept in the sporting world that has captured the attention of coaches and athletes competing in a wide range of sporting events. Low energy availability (LEA) is the main determinant of RED-S which occurs when an individual is unable to meet their daily energy demands for optimal health and performance, i.e., is unable to consume enough food throughout the day to meet energy requirements for day-to-day life and exercise. When an individual is in a state of LEA over an extended period of time, it can lead to numerous negative health outcomes such as hormonal changes, loss of period, lowered immunity, iron deficiency and increased bone fracture risk.

Unfortunately, RED-S can commonly go undetected or can be misdiagnosed. Therefore, the main signs and symptoms to be aware of as an athlete, parent or coach include:

·       Low-BMI/ no weight gain for developing athletes

·       Lack of menstrual function

·       Increased stress fractures (low bone mineral density)

·       Chronic fatigue

·       Disordered eating patterns and poor nutritional intake

Athletes at risk of these symptoms tend to include those participating in endurance/ weight-category sports or those training two times per day or more. Early detection of these symptoms can be crucial in helping prevent any long-term health consequences.

Working with a Health Management accredited sports dietitian can help ensure that you are meeting your energy demands and reducing the risks associated with low-energy availability.  Additionally, raising awareness among athletes and coaching staff is a great way to prevent the prevalence of RED-S while also allowing athletes to understand the importance of nutrition.

We work with all athletes and see clients on an individual or team level. If you are embarking on an adventure or something out of the ordinary, give us a call and our specialist sports dietitians can get you on the right path with your nutrition.