So, You Want to become a Sports Nutritionist

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Olympic athletes like Anton Ohno, body builders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and professional dancers like Pascal Molat all must eat very carefully to maintain their peak performance. To make sure they eat a healthy and energy packed diet without packing on unnecessary pounds, these pros turn to another pro—the Sports Nutritionist.

Many Sports Nutritionists specialize in certain sports or groups of related sports. The most successful Sports Nutritionists will often work one-on-one for specific athletes; others will be attached to gyms, sports clubs or a college athletics department. Still others will pursue highly lucrative careers as freelance Sports Nutrition consultants, catering to actors, top models and other well-heeled clientele.

To become a Sports Nutritionist, you'll most likely need a Masters Degree in the field. Many universities offer programs in Sports Nutrition, which teach advanced skills in measuring metabolism, developing menus and adapting nutritional programs that help strengthen and prepare the body for physical stress and endurance. Ideally, before enrolling in a Masters Degree program, you should already have earned a Bachelor's Degree in nutrition or other healthcare-related field. Coursework in a Master's Degree program will typically cover the human anatomy, human biochemistry, and a detailed analysis of how nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and sugars affect the body.

What can you expect to earn as a Sports Nutritionist? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sports Nutritionists earned an average salary of $51,470 in 2008. The most highly paid ten percent earned over $73,000 per year.

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
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