Running on Less: Poor Nutrition Increases Injury Risk for Female Athletes

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Study suggests to keep running strong we should dial-in our nutrition

Proper nutrition is crucial for enhancing athletic performance, supporting recovery and overall health. Now, a study reveals that proper nutrition is also key to reducing the risk of injury, especially for females. The investigation, which was published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, analyzed data from 15 studies that featured nearly 6,000 runners. After crunching the numbers on diet and injury, the researchers from Australia discovered that people who took in fewer total calories and grams of fat were more likely to develop injuries than those who ate more. The researchers specifically found that women who were prone to injury took in 450 fewer calories and 20 fewer grams of fat per day than those who weren’t injured.  When athletes don’t consume enough energy, it’s likely that key systems in the body begin to suffer. The injured runners ate three grams less of fiber a day than those who were injury-free. But the amount of protein, carbs, alcohol and calcium in their diets didn’t seem to influence the chance of developing an injury. Of course, sports-related injuries are complicated and it’s hard to say that the secret to staying off the sidelines is as simple as filling your plate with the right foods. But this data suggests that proper fueling can’t hurt and athletes, along with their coaches, need to make sure nutritional needs are being met.