The provision or restriction of select nutrients in an athlete’s diet can elicit a variety of changes in fuel utilization, training adaptation, and performance outcomes. On this episode we discuss the impact of both acute and chronic
carbohydrate restriction on iron metabolism, comparing models of periodized carbohydrate availability and ketogenic low carbohydrate high fat diets.
We also touch base on the link between low energy availability , poor iron status and altered hepcidin activity in endurante athletes.

Iron deficiency (ID) is a prevailing nutritional concern amongst the athletic population due to the increased iron demands of
this group. Athletes’ ability to replenish taxed iron stores is challenging due to the low bioavailability of dietary sources, and
the interaction between exercise and hepcidin, the primary iron-regulatory hormone. This will be the main focus of this episode.

On this episode we are talking with Peter Hespel and Chiel Poffé from the University of Leuven / Bakala Academy to provide an update to the topic of exogenous ketones in cycling thanks to their research on this topic. Do ketones improve performance after all? Is there any particular context in which their use is justified? Find out here.