Saltman presented the research at a recent American Medical Association media briefing on the Olympics and Sports Medicine. According to Saltman, nutrition is a very weak, if not missing link in optimal athletic performance.
Nutrition is important because it supports the optimal functioning of organs, muscles and tissues.
They can choose from a wide variety of foods, provided those foods fall under one of the six stated requirements. And if they go outside these guidelines, they need to supplement. Saltman stresses that these principles can be applied to all levels of athletes and non-athletes to create a sound nutritional diet. He says that athletes can achieve ideal nutrition by a combination of foods, fortified foods and supplements. An enormous number of different dietary strategies can provide ideal nutrition for each individual athlete, Saltman stated.