Ep 89 Dana Bielinski & Dr. Karin VanBaak - Sports Nutrition, RED-S

In this episode of the Gnar Stool podcast, we sit down with two experts in sports nutrition and medicine: Dana Bielinski, Director of Performance Nutrition at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Dr. Karin VanBaak, a Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician. Together, they dive into the complex and often overlooked topic of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), unpacking its wide-ranging effects on both male and female athletes.Dana shares her perspective on the nutritional demands of high-performance sports and the challenges athletes face in meeting their energy needs. She discusses her recent research on dietary restriction and bone health, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between coaches, dietitians, and medical teams to support long-term athlete well-being.Dr. VanBaak explores the hormonal disruptions caused by RED-S, including how energy deficits can impact the hypothalamic-pituitary axis—leading to menstrual irregularities in women and low testosterone in men. She stresses the importance of recognizing early signs such as fatigue, stress fractures, or performance plateaus, and highlights the role of thorough dietary assessment in diagnosis and recovery.This conversation sheds light on the physiological, psychological, and performance-related impacts of RED-S, while offering practical strategies for athletes, coaches, and parents to build a healthier, more sustainable approach to sport and nutrition.Registered Dietitian (RD or RDN) with experience with sports (Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics CSSD). For individuals with eating disorders Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS)https://www.shpndpg.org/homehttps://sportsrd.org/ Resources:For a board certified sports medicine physician, look for the qualification CAQSM (Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine).Project RED-S https://red-s.com/FASTR https://fastr.stanford.edu/VIS https://www.voiceinsport.com/Boston Female Athlete Program https://www.voiceinsport.com/Gnar Stool Podcast X SMMT Tumblerhttps://smmtoutdoor.com/