TEMPE, Ariz. -- March was nutrition awareness month and Sun Devil Athletics dedicated time to educating its student-athletes on nutritional education and specifically dietary supplements through a campaign called Supplements Demand Attention (SDA).
Through a partnership with the ASU College of Health Solutions, the SDA campaign highlights three elements they are trying to implement with student athletes:
1- Ask Questions
2- Take Ownership
3- Make Safe Choices
If not prepared with the proper education, student-athletes can be at risk of using dietary supplements that might contain NCAA banned substances. There is a gray area with supplements due poor regulation, allowing them to be available to anyone. Education on the subject is important to protect the student-athletes from risks due to lack of knowing, to avoid suspensions or violations, as well as preventing bodily harm.
"We really want to encourage our student- athletes to make safe choices and be informed with their use of supplements. Ideally choosing to not take a supplement is best, but the reality is athletes are going to take dietary supplements. We want to be a resource and give them the objective information on how a product or ingredient might help their health or performance or even how it would not help," said Sun Devil Athletics Director of Sports Nutrition Amber Yudell.
"I think it's very important to educate all student-athletes about dietary supplements because ignorance is not an acceptable excuse when caught using a banned supplement," said Sun Devil gymnast Jessica Ginn, who is majoring in kinesiology. "Therefore, it is very important all student-athletes are informed about which supplements are allowed and which aren't."
At Arizona State, the nutrition department within Sun Devil Athletics focuses on a food-first method before using dietary supplements. They provide all student-athletes with food that fuels their body to make sure they are performing at the highest levels possible.
If an athlete does choose to use dietary supplements, it is highly encouraged the supplement is third party tested before actually taking the product to make sure it passes the proper tests and is cleared for safe usage.
"Getting any supplement checked by the dietitian before consuming it is always the safest route," Ginn said.
To get the message out, the nutrition department has begun organized information sessions for students as well as the public.
Not only is it important for the student-athletes to be aware and informed of what they are putting into their bodies, but parents play a big role in the process of what athletes are eating and should be educated as well.
"It is so important for athletes to understand nutrition because it has a huge impact not only on how we feel, but on our sports and academic performance, as well,"
Ginn said. "No matter what an athlete's goals are, nutrition plays a big role in it."
Going forward, Sun Devil Athletics and the ASU College of Health Solutions hope to continue to do an annual supplement study check with all 600 plus student-athletes, and study how providing this information influences the decisions of the student-athletes in regards to dietary supplements. Dr. Floris Wardenaar, currently involved as sports nutrition consultant at Sun Devil Athletics, leads these studies.
"I think it is extremely helpful for both the student-athletes and the sports nutrition department to be able to build a long term track record of supplement use," said Wardenaar. "This will enable better guidance and education towards the use of dietary supplements in the future."
You can follow the current campaign about dietary supplements and other nutritional education on Twitter and Instagram at @FueltheFork.
Through a partnership with the ASU College of Health Solutions, the SDA campaign highlights three elements they are trying to implement with student athletes:
1- Ask Questions
2- Take Ownership
3- Make Safe Choices
If not prepared with the proper education, student-athletes can be at risk of using dietary supplements that might contain NCAA banned substances. There is a gray area with supplements due poor regulation, allowing them to be available to anyone. Education on the subject is important to protect the student-athletes from risks due to lack of knowing, to avoid suspensions or violations, as well as preventing bodily harm.
"We really want to encourage our student- athletes to make safe choices and be informed with their use of supplements. Ideally choosing to not take a supplement is best, but the reality is athletes are going to take dietary supplements. We want to be a resource and give them the objective information on how a product or ingredient might help their health or performance or even how it would not help," said Sun Devil Athletics Director of Sports Nutrition Amber Yudell.
"I think it's very important to educate all student-athletes about dietary supplements because ignorance is not an acceptable excuse when caught using a banned supplement," said Sun Devil gymnast Jessica Ginn, who is majoring in kinesiology. "Therefore, it is very important all student-athletes are informed about which supplements are allowed and which aren't."
At Arizona State, the nutrition department within Sun Devil Athletics focuses on a food-first method before using dietary supplements. They provide all student-athletes with food that fuels their body to make sure they are performing at the highest levels possible.
If an athlete does choose to use dietary supplements, it is highly encouraged the supplement is third party tested before actually taking the product to make sure it passes the proper tests and is cleared for safe usage.
"Getting any supplement checked by the dietitian before consuming it is always the safest route," Ginn said.
To get the message out, the nutrition department has begun organized information sessions for students as well as the public.
Not only is it important for the student-athletes to be aware and informed of what they are putting into their bodies, but parents play a big role in the process of what athletes are eating and should be educated as well.
"It is so important for athletes to understand nutrition because it has a huge impact not only on how we feel, but on our sports and academic performance, as well,"
Ginn said. "No matter what an athlete's goals are, nutrition plays a big role in it."
Going forward, Sun Devil Athletics and the ASU College of Health Solutions hope to continue to do an annual supplement study check with all 600 plus student-athletes, and study how providing this information influences the decisions of the student-athletes in regards to dietary supplements. Dr. Floris Wardenaar, currently involved as sports nutrition consultant at Sun Devil Athletics, leads these studies.
"I think it is extremely helpful for both the student-athletes and the sports nutrition department to be able to build a long term track record of supplement use," said Wardenaar. "This will enable better guidance and education towards the use of dietary supplements in the future."
You can follow the current campaign about dietary supplements and other nutritional education on Twitter and Instagram at @FueltheFork.