Nutrient Timing: Metabolic Optimization for Health, Performance, and Recovery PDF

Preface

This book is part of the continual efforts of CRC and Taylor & Francis to provide relevant, meaningful titles in areas that relate to exercise, nutrition, and health. Nutrient timing is a concept that has evolved into a practice. While it certainly is considered as an aspect of nutrition, its existence lies particularly in the application of knowledge. Whereas some areas are considered foundational content, the timing of nutrients surrounding exercise or other periods of stress has been and continues to be widely considered as a strategy or method performed by athletes or other active individuals that may confer improved adaptations to the exercise or stressor invoked. Make no mistake about it, this mind-set or concept overall is in its infancy as the number of studies that have particularly been designed to examine timing are limited. Researchers, coaches, and athletes abroad have jumped onboard and fueled its flames, resulting in it growing into something that is discussed on many continents and in many sports nutrition or applied physiology laboratories throughout the world.

The book is separated into three sections. The first section operates as an introduction, with Chapter 1 leading the way as a "placement" of nutrient timing into the world of sports. Concluding this section are chapters focusing on the macronutrients and a general overview of their role in sporting activity and a chapter focusing on vitamins and minerals. The middle section could be considered the "meat" of the book as this section consists of chapters that focus exclusively on the preexercise, during exercise, and postexercise considerations for both resistance and aerobically mediated activity. The final section could be looked upon as "the future" or the "speculative/daring" aspect of the book. Chapters in this section are devoted to concepts themselves inside nutrient timing. Here, the impact of protein source is considered in the context of timing. In addition, nutrient timing is discussed regarding how it can fit in with a comprehensive recovery program. Finally, two chapters are exclusively devoted to discussing the application of these concepts in alternative/unique populations, including the aged, the military, and populations interested in weight loss. Organization of this task began with corralling the single best group of scientists, future scientists, and practitioners that I could to complete the work. I was humbled by the response as the authors represent five countries and three continents, and many of these people are truly the best in the business in not only their respective universities, but also their respective countries. Thus, it was my hope to deliver one of the most authoritative books to date discussing the scientific application of the concept of nutrient timing. I leave it up to its readers to decide whether this goal was achieved.