Endurance athletes regularly push their bodies to the limits with a strenuous training regimen that demands smart nutrition. In Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, Ryan offers proven strategies for improved athletic performance with sport-specific guidelines for running, cycling, triathlon, swimming, adventure racing, and rowing. In-depth information is presented in an easy-to-read and accessible style, with individual chapters dedicated to each of these popular endurance sports.

The science of nutrition can be daunting for athletes, but Ryan converts it to practical advice for smarter eating. Athletes will learn how to assess body composition and find healthy ways to lose body fat and build muscle. Ryan gives a comprehensive explanation of the nutritional role of carbohydrates, protein, and fat in an athlete's diet and explains the importance of meal timing for better performance and recovery. Ryan also explains the concepts of nutritional periodization so athletes can properly adjust their mix of foods throughout the training cycle. The book includes a review of popular ergogenic aids, tips on meal planning, typical shopping lists, sample menus, glycemic index tables, facts about vitamins and minerals, and a comparison of sports nutrition products. Within each sport-specific chapter are tips to adjust nutritional intake for races of different lengths.