Female Athletes
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1. Are there special needs for female athletes?
Yes. More male athletes eat as many calories as they expend during the day than
female athletes. Put differently, more female athletes are calorie deficient. This has
been determined to be the reason for the ineffectiveness of carbohydrate loading in
females. For female athletes in energy balance, carb loading is as effective as it is for
men. In addition, females have a greater need for iron and calcium than males (this is
in general true, not simply for athletes). Iron absorption is directly proportional to
vitamin C content in the meal, so include fruits and / or vegetables in each meal.
Calcium (highest in dairy and fortified foods) is absorbed the most when vitamin D is in
the meal (vitamin D is highest in fatty fish, meat, dairy, and fortified foods).
Yes. More male athletes eat as many calories as they expend during the day than
female athletes. Put differently, more female athletes are calorie deficient. This has
been determined to be the reason for the ineffectiveness of carbohydrate loading in
females. For female athletes in energy balance, carb loading is as effective as it is for
men. In addition, females have a greater need for iron and calcium than males (this is
in general true, not simply for athletes). Iron absorption is directly proportional to
vitamin C content in the meal, so include fruits and / or vegetables in each meal.
Calcium (highest in dairy and fortified foods) is absorbed the most when vitamin D is in
the meal (vitamin D is highest in fatty fish, meat, dairy, and fortified foods).
© Clyde F. Wilson