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Phoenix Articles - Nancy Clark?s Sports Nutrition Guidebook

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Author: Nancy Clark, M.Sc., P.Dt.
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers; Third edition (August 2003)
ISBN: 073604602X
Dimensions: 9.0 x 6.1 x 1.0 inches

I just finished Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook and I’d highly recommend it to any serious runner or otherwise athletic individual who wishes to optimize their performance through proper nutrition combined with good training. The book boasts being “the #1 nutrition resource for active people”, as it says on the cover, and although I wouldn’t go as far as proclaiming it the best sports nutrition book of all-time, I will say that it is a very welcome addition to any sports/nutrition enthusiasts library.

The book is easy to read and the information is presented very clearly, without fancy terms or big words which could leave someone with little nutrition knowledge a tad confused. It includes little case studies to spark interest, and all of the stories are true accounts from the author’s practice. It covers a myriad of topics, from basic things that everyone should know like the food guide pyramid (it’s American, so there’s no rainbow), to more “complex” things like carbo-loading, proper fueling pre-, during, and post-exercise, as well as trying to lose weight while still maintaining enough energy to train hard. The final 100 pages of the book is a compilation of healthful and fueling recipes for everything from smoothies to desserts.

As I mentioned, the book is pretty much suitable to anyone, as it is very easy to read. There’s no need to be a scholar to read this one! It is a pretty well-known book and I’d say that it’s a worthwhile investment at only 20 bucks at Chapters. It uncovers many myths and gives nothing but scientifically proven facts. You won’t find any herbal remedies in this book (which is the way I like it)! So for anyone who wants to learn the basics of proper fueling without the headache of biochemistry, this is the book for you!

Allison Gates