Why Sports Nutrition Matters More Than Most Athletes Think

For many athletes, training is where most of the attention goes. Hours are spent improving technique, building strength, and preparing for competition. But one of the biggest factors influencing performance happens away from the gym. It happens at the dining table.

ELEVA Physiotherapy & Performance founder Edric Magalona had the opportunity to deliver a Sports Nutrition Workshop during the first-ever Athletes' Forum organised by the Aruba Athletes' Commission (AAC) and the Aruba Olympic Committee (COA). The session brought together young athletes from different sports to learn practical strategies they can immediately apply to improve their performance, recovery, and long-term health.

Nutrition Is Part of Training

Many athletes think of nutrition as something that's only important before competition. In reality, nutrition influences every training session.

During the workshop, Edric explained how the body's nutritional needs change depending on the type of training being performed. An endurance session requires a different approach than a heavy strength workout, while recovery days have their own nutritional priorities as well.

Understanding how to fuel properly helps athletes train harder, recover faster, and perform more consistently throughout the season.

Hydration Is Performance

One of the key topics discussed during the workshop was hydration.

Even mild dehydration can affect concentration, reaction time, endurance, and overall athletic performance. Many athletes only think about drinking water once they feel thirsty, but by then, performance may already be declining.

Learning how to hydrate before, during, and after training is one of the simplest ways athletes can improve both performance and recovery.

Recovery Starts After Training Ends

Another important message shared during the workshop was that training doesn't end when the workout is over. The body only adapts to training when it has the resources to recover.

Proper nutrition after exercise helps replenish energy stores, repair muscle tissue, and prepare the body for the next session. Combined with quality sleep, recovery becomes one of the most powerful tools an athlete has for long-term improvement.

As Edric explained throughout the session, athletes don't simply get stronger because they train; they get stronger because they recover well enough to adapt to that training.

From Education to Everyday Practice

For Edric, presenting at the Athletes' Forum was another opportunity to combine his background in physiotherapy, sports nutrition, and competitive sport.

As both a physiotherapist and an athlete himself, he understands that the challenges athletes face extend beyond injuries. Performance depends on many factors working together, including movement quality, training load, recovery, nutrition, and lifestyle.

Workshops like these allow athletes to better understand the science behind performance while giving them practical advice they can immediately put into practice.

More Than Treating Injuries

At ELEVA, physiotherapy isn't only about helping people recover after something goes wrong. It's about helping people perform at their best while reducing injury risk along the way.

Whether someone is preparing for competition, returning from injury, or simply trying to live a healthier and more active life, education plays an important role in that process.

Experiences like the Athletes' Forum continue to strengthen ELEVA's mission of bringing evidence-based knowledge back to Aruba's sporting community. Every opportunity to work alongside local athletes helps build better care, better performance, and healthier athletes for the future.

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