Welcome to another episode of Finding Small Wins Podcast, a space for conversations that pull back the curtain on sports, where to learn how to upgrade health & performance, and shed some light on how some of the best at what they do are finding the small wins that help them along the way.
Adam Loiacono, your host, is a physical therapist in the NBA & a former performance coach in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.
In this episode, Adam is joined by Maggie Awad. Maggie is a nurse practitioner experienced in professional sports, explaining the connection between gut health and sports performance.
Key Takeaways:
[1:40] Maggie shares how she became interested in gut health and how she included it in her practice.
[4:41] Three questions you should ask when there is an injured athlete.
[6:00] Why does Maggie find so much value in caring for gut health?
[8:31] Maggie shares what she looks at when diagnosing someone’s gut health.
[9:48] What does Maggie do first when she finds a nutritional deficiency in a patient?
[11:45] You could be eating too many fermented foods; Maggie confesses she is not a Kombucha fan.
[12:42] Maggie explains why people take too many probiotics.
[14:23] Maggie shares perspective on antibiotics.
[15:40] What is the difference between food sensitivity and food allergy?
[19:03] Achieving the optimal sleep schedule can be challenging for a professional athlete.
[22:09] What are the essential nutrients necessary for good bone health?
[23:31] Maggie shares a pro athlete's expected Vitamin D levels.
[24:15] What is the relation between vitamin K and vitamin D?
[24:42] What is the role of the two types of magnesium?
[26:26] Iron levels are very important for bone health.
[28:07] What are the recommended key nutrients and supplementation for the treatment of bone stress reaction?
[32:44] Why do some athletes swell more than others from the gut health perspective?
[36:01] The brain-gut access
[37:41] What can an athlete do to fight swelling? First, eliminate sugars and alcohol.
[40:18] Why is acute inflammation necessary for healing?
[41:20] Maggie is a fan of omega 3.
[43:36] What is the influence that alcohol has on the gut?
[44:50] Maggie shares her perspective on caffeine and its link to gut health.
[49:08] Maggie speaks of the benefits of having a stool test.
[51:04] How does Maggie help her client find their small wins through treatment?
[53:42] How does Maggie define a small win?
[55:55] Rapid fire questions with Maggie to know more about your gut health: How many times a day do you poop? Are you drinking enough water? Eating enough fiber?
Must have: Prebiotic foods, garlic, onions, apples, asparagus, yogurt, and kefir.
The worst foods: sugar, fruit juices, alcohol
The worst modern-day myth: Gut health is all about food (not at all! It is a lifestyle!)
What can parents do? Don’t buy fruit juice! Try to get fun with food.
Mentioned in this episode:
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