GLOSSARY

Choline Requirement in Pregnancy Choline supply during pregnancy, which should be reviewed because prenatal products do not necessarily contain substantial amounts.

For example, a pregnant athlete should bring the actual prenatal product and other supplements to a review. Check relevant nutrients and duplication with the obstetric team. Activity and food should support pregnancy and maternal health rather than continuing an ordinary cutting diet because it was previously effective for competition.

Pregnancy nutrition supports maternal health, fetal development and appropriate activity. Energy needs vary with gestational stage, prior status and exercise; the plan is not simply an unrestricted doubling of food. Folate, iron, iodine, choline and other nutrients deserve attention within an appropriate prenatal plan. Check the actual supplement composition and avoid stacking products. Coordinate exercise and nutrition with obstetric care, especially when symptoms or complications occur, rather than applying ordinary athlete weight-control goals during pregnancy.

Nutrition for a female athlete starts with adequate energy and nutrients for the actual sport, health and life stage. Menstrual history, iron losses, contraception, pregnancy and menopause can add important context. Average sex differences do not define every person's needs, and evidence from one hormonal state cannot automatically be applied to another. Ask about symptoms and preferences without assuming that menstruation requires restriction. Preserve confidentiality and use relevant health information to support care rather than to judge selection, commitment or athletic potential.

An adequate diet provides sufficient energy and essential nutrients while fitting health needs. A high score for variety or a healthy food label cannot independently demonstrate adequacy. Review what is actually eaten, including foods excluded and suitable replacements. Athletes can consume many vegetables yet still lack enough energy or carbohydrate for training. Assess the overall pattern, distribution and relevant nutrient risks rather than assuming that a single food or supplement makes the entire diet balanced.

Nutrient status reflects intake, absorption, distribution, stores, losses and physiological demand. A normal blood concentration may not exclude depleted stores, while an abnormal result can have non-nutritional causes. Calcium in blood, for example, does not directly measure dietary calcium adequacy or skeletal reserves. Different nutrients require different assessment strategies. Select tests for a defined clinical question and interpret them with symptoms, diet, relevant disease and sampling conditions instead of ordering a broad panel and assuming every number is a performance target.

Food safety requires attention to clean preparation, separation of raw and ready-to-eat foods, adequate cooking and appropriate chilling. Appearance or smell cannot reliably establish that a food is safe. Travel, team catering and homemade recovery products add storage and cross-contamination challenges. Use a food thermometer and local guidance for specific foods and storage conditions. Pregnant people, young children, older adults and immunocompromised individuals may need additional precautions. Preventing infection supports training continuity more reliably than assuming supplements will compensate for unsafe food handling.

A nutrition care record should explain the assessment, interpretation, agreed plan, responsible professionals and follow-up criteria. Separate reported information from measured findings and clinical judgments. Record relevant units, dates, methods and changes so that another practitioner can understand the decision. Seek consent for sharing sensitive information and limit access appropriately. A referral should communicate the specific concern and urgency rather than only a broad label. In sport, documentation should support continuity of care while protecting health information from inappropriate use in coaching or selection.