Scholar Athletes to Hit the Sports Nutrition Books

Finally, a state government is looking to educate about dietary supplements, instead of legislating against them. Considering all the negative press sports nutrition supplements have faced in recent years over safety concerns involving some high profile adverse events among athletes, it is a bit of a surprise that the Pennsylvania State House Health and Human Services Committee is trying to create a sports nutrition education program for state schools, to help student-athletes better incorporate nutrition and dietary supplements into a lifestyle that benefits both health and performance. They hope to develop a plan by Nov. 30 and have sought input from various experts.

Kim Crawford, a certified specialist in sports dietetics and coordinator of nutrition graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, suggested the committee utilize a sports nutrition curriculum the state's Department of Education has created, adding any finalized program should be updated annually to reflect the latest research.

It is good to hear such advice, as it is important for schools and coaches to embrace supplements while encouraging safe use based on facts (research etc.), not conjecture and rumor and propaganda.

On national wrestling association rep even suggested addressing the extreme weight loss and weight gains athletes like that which wrestlers undertake to qualify for certain weight classes for competition. With weight-loss supplements being one area of concern in the overall supplement market, relative to product misuse and advertising claim issues, it would be a blessing to have these athletes better advised on how to better manage weight.

Alan Utter, a professor from Appalachian State University and trustee for the American College of Sports Medicine, praised the state's efforts, saying there is often a focus on the negative (performance-enhancing substance testing, etc.), so it is refreshing to see a positive focus on educating high school student athletes who already take dietary supplements to improve performance and physique.

Read more about the initiative at Penn Live.

This good news for the sports nutrition industry comes as word from the Bejing Olympics is sports supplements played a major role in the games, without any controversy. No blame for testing failures. No contamination charges. Wow, is the tide changing?