30 Plants Per Week for Gut Health? Sleep Issues During Dieting & Sodium for Athletes

In this episode of The Bodybuilding Dietitians Podcast, we answer listener questions on dietary diversity, gut health, sleep during dieting, and sodium intake for active individuals.   We explore the concept of aiming for 30 different plant foods per week, why dietary variety may matter for gut health, and how physique athletes can increase food diversity without overcomplicating their nutrition.   We also discuss why sleep often becomes more disrupted during calorie deficits and contest prep, looking at both the physiological drivers and practical strategies that may help minimise disruption.   Finally, we unpack common misconceptions around sodium intake, including how much may be appropriate for active individuals, when higher intakes may be useful, and why consistency often matters more than aggressive restriction.   As always, we wrap up with what we learned this week.   ⸻   Links & Resources Coaching Services – https://www.thebodybuildingdietitians.com/enquirenow  Website – https://www.thebodybuildingdietitians.com/   Instagram The Bodybuilding Dietitians – https://www.instagram.com/thebodybuildingdietitians/?hl=en Team TBD – https://www.instagram.com/_teamtbd_/?hl=en Jack Radford-Smith – https://www.instagram.com/jack.radfordsmith/?hl=en  Damien Cox – https://www.instagram.com/dietitian_damiencox/?hl=en Lauren Stevens – https://www.instagram.com/thephysiquedietitian_/?hl=en   ⸻   Enjoying the podcast? Make sure to subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a five-star rating or review, it really helps us grow and reach more listeners.