In this episode, we welcome Lauren Thomas, a sports dietitian who has worked in various fields including tactical nutrition, private practice, and is currently the US Performance Nutritionist for Maurten. Lauren covers the importance of anti-diet, performance-focused nutrition, especially within the military. Key topics include tactical nutrition, the importance of carbohydrates and antioxidants for cognitive and physical performance, the benefit of wearables on tracking athletic performance, and the efficacy of certain sports products in varied athletic contexts. We also chat about misleading marketing and scare tactics around avoiding sugar in sports nutrition. Tune in for a comprehensive discussion aiming to reshape your understanding of  brain fuel and sports nutrition for mental clarity and focus.

Lauren Thomas MS RD CSSD LD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics based in Washington, DC. Lauren has over a decade worth of experience in the world of sports nutrition, providing comprehensive nutrition therapy and individualized dietary planning to enhance athlete performance. Lauren currently is the US Performance Nutritionist for Maurten, where she educates and consults with athletes and teams to fine tune training and racing fueling strategies. Prior to joining Maurten, Lauren worked as a Tactical Performance Dietitian within the US Special Operations community as part of a greater integrated Human Performance team. Lauren received her Master of Science degree in Nutrition Education from Teachers College Columbia University, an undergraduate degree in psychology and education from Bucknell University, and is currently working towards her IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition.

00:00 Introduction to Mind Your Fitness Podcast

00:52 Guest Introduction: Lauren Thomas

01:05 Lauren's Journey and Professional Background

03:10 Tactical Nutrition in the Military

08:16 Nutrition for Cognitive Performance

14:50 Working with Morton: Sports Nutrition Insights

20:16 Debunking Sugar Myths in Sports Nutrition

24:59 The Role of Wearables in Nutrition and Performance

27:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts