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Copyright: Nancy Clark, MS, RD

WEBSITE SPORTS NUTRITION: Untangling the maze

It's a jungle out there in cyberspace--a tangled jungle, at best, particularly when it comes to separating reliable nutrition information from the quasi-science and the downright nutrition quackery you'll find all over the space. But if you can link into some of the reputable sites, you'll find a wealth of information that addresses any number of your nutrition questions and concerns.

Unfortunately, many active people shy away from the Web, because we know time can pass too quickly in cyberspace. We can easily spend too many hours surfing the Web--hours that most of us could and would rather spend enjoying exercise, not sitting at the computer.

If you have no time to waste exploring cyberspace, the following information can help you target some top sports nutrition Web sites. I found the sites while recovering from knee surgury--a time when I was stranded on the couch, keeping company with my laptop computer. If you, too, happen to be injured, consider taking advantage of the opportunity to become familiar with website sports nutrition. Preferably, you're healthy and simply choose to cybersurf on your rest days or after a hard workout.

Some Favorite Nutrition Websites

Site #1. The American Dietetic Association www.eatright.org

For athletes with nutrition questions, one of the best parts of The American Dietetic Association's site is the referral network. Simply click on Find a Dietitian, then supply the information needed to locate a registered diet-itian in your zip code or within a certain radius from your hometown. You can choose from several specialty areas to fit all of your nutrition interests--sports nutrition, eating disorders, vegetarian diets, diabetes, or even how to feed cancer patients during treatment. The site also includes nutrition resources, with handy fact sheets on topics from feeding infants to osteoporosis, as well as a list of recommended nutrition books.

Site #2. The Gatorade Sports Science Institute www.gssiweb.com

The Gatorade Sports Science Institute was created by the Gatorade Company to foster and share education, service and research in sports nutrition and other aspects of exercise science and an active lifestyle. The site is designed to provide information for athletic trainers, physicians, coaches, nutritionists, and others in the fields of sports nutrition, sports medicine, and exercise science. The comprehensive website provides a wealth of sports nutrition information. Simply click on Site Index, and then open up Sports Science Exchange or The Coaches' Corner. There, you'll be able to read articles writtten by the nation's leading exercise scientists, with topics ranging from "Carbohydrates for Athletic Performance" to "Fad Diets and Supplement Use in Athletes" to "How to Motivate Young Athletes." The GSSI website provides far more than just information about thirst quenchers. It's a goldmine of information for health professionals and athletes alike.

Site #3. Something Fishy Website

www.something-fishy.com/ed.htm

If you are among the many active people who struggle with food, this site is a safe place for information and offers welcome food help. Created by a woman who recovered from anorexia and is committed to "give something back to the world", this comprehensive website on eating disorders has over 40 topics to click into. Some choices include: what to do if you think you have an eating disorder, physical dangers, compulsive exercise, issues for men, a site map with where to get local help, and 24-hour chat rooms for support. Given that many people with anorexia tend to be perfectionists, I'd say this user-friendly site has received the benefit of having been perfectly created to help both male and female athletes and others who are struggling with food and are at war with their bodies.

Site #4. The Int'l Food Information Council

http://ificinfo.health.org (Note: no "www")

The purpose of the International Food Information Council (IFIC, a nonprofic organization based in Washington DC) is to provide sound, scientific information on food safety and nutrition to journalists, health professionals, educators, and consumers. Because consumers face a complex maze of conflicting stories and outright misinformation, IFIC is committed to clearly communicating facts about food and nutrition to consumers who want reliable information.

If you have a question about caffeine, olestra, margarine, alcohol or any other hot food topic, simply click on Search our Site, and enter the topic of interest. In the blink of an eye, you'll have access to numerous articles that can address your concerns, answer your questions, and help you make wise food choices.

Site #5. Nancy Clark, RD

www.nancyclarkrd.com

You can easily link to the above mentioned sites (plus other nutrition sites) via my website. Come visit and click away!

Nancy Clark, MS, RD specializes in nutrition for exercise. She offers private nutrition consultations at Sports Medicine Brookline. Her popular Sports Nutrition Guidebook, 2nd edition ($14.36) and The New York City Marathon Cookbook ($23) are available via Amazon.com