Class Nutrition and Physical Activity

Appropriate dietary habits can improve physical performance and post-exercise recovery through well-chosen and individually planned nutritional strategies. This curricular unit aims to address these strategies by focusing on basic concepts of food and nutrition, on the calculation of the energy requirements of the individuals, and in the type, amount and timing of nutritional intake and fluids to maintain and promote good health and adaptation to physical training. Nutritional interventions in specific situations or in special populations, as weight loss or in the different life stages in women, are also addressed.

• Introduction to nutrition: macro and micronutrients and water ¿ basic concepts and functions/physiological actions in the body.
• Food and nutrition for health promotion and disease prevention: food wheel; Mediterranean food pattern; food composition table; food and nutrition labeling.
• Energy metabolism: sources of muscular energy; energy requirements. 
• Food and nutrition in physical activity and exercise (recommendations for pre-, during and after practicing exercise).
• Food and nutrition in women (in the different life stages).
• Food and nutrition for weight management.

It is adopted a theoretical-practical methodology that will focus on discussions within the classroom, using elements and teaching strategies of theoretical (expository and interrogative methods) and theoretical-practical nature (practical tasks). It will also be used the system of b-learning (moodle) where support materials for each of the classes will be available. The continuous assessment requires an attendance rate of 70% or more and comprises the completion of 2 tests with equal weighting. To be approved, the student must obtain a minimum of 9,5 values in each assessment moment. If, in any (and only in one) of the assessment moments, there is a classification below 7,5 values, the student will be able to recover from that situation later, to a maximum of 7,5 values, but only if the mean is above 9,5 values. If, in both assessment moments, the student has a rating below 9,5 values, the student fails the continuous evaluation and can take the global appeal exam.

• Teixeira, P.J., Sardinha, L.B., & Themudo Barata, J.L. (2008). Nutrição, Exercício e Saúde. Lidel ¿ Edições Técnicas.

• Programa Nacional para a Promoção da Alimentação Saudável. Nutrição no Desporto. Direção-Geral da Saúde. Lisboa, 2016

• Thomas, D.T., Erdman, K.A., Burke, L.M. (2016). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. J Acad Nutr Diet. Mar;116(3):501-28.

• Burke, L.M., Castell, L.M., Casa, D.J., Close, G.L., Costa, R.J.S., Desbrow, B., et al. International Association of Athletics Federations Consensus Statement 2019: Nutrition for Athletics. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019;29(2):73-84.

Materiais de apoio (slides e bibliografia complementar) disponibilizados semanalmente no Moodle.