In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes interviews Sarah Kroll, Vice President of Food and Nutrition at NSF, and John Travis, Principal Technical Manager at NSF. They discuss the complexities of nutrition and the importance of food safety and supplement standards.

Kroll and Travis emphasize the role of NSF in protecting and improving human health through rigorous testing and certification processes, particularly in the areas of supplements, food products, and cosmetics. They also touch on the evolving landscape of consumer demand for clean and safe products, and NSF's role in ensuring quality and safety in a variety of industries.

This episode provides valuable insights into how consumers can make informed choices about the products they use.

Episode Highlights:

01:22 The Impact of Period Pain on Women's Lives

03:01 Meet the Experts: Sarah Kroll and John Travis

06:25 NSF for Sport: Ensuring Supplement Safety

09:21 The Importance of Certification and Standards

28:17 Addressing RED-S in Female Athletes

33:32 The Evolving Landscape of Supplements

34:29 NSF's Expanding Role Beyond Supplements

39:32 Food Safety and Consumer Awareness

43:03 Supply Chain Stressors and Adulteration Risks

45:36 The Rise of Sugar Substitutes

50:27 Lead in Protein Powders: Understanding the Risks

54:39 The Importance of Certification and Safe Consumption

57:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

John Travis has more than 25 years of experience in analyzing dietary supplements, utilizing techniques such as gas and high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. His expertise in the analysis of dietary supplements for ingredients prohibited by antidoping organizations was instrumental in developing screening methods for NSF’s Certified for Sport program. These procedures help analyze and detect potentially harmful substances, contaminants and emerging drugs in dietary supplements. He joined NSF in 1995.

Sarah Krol is Vice President, Food and Nutrition at NSF is responsible for NSF’s global Food and Nutrition division, which includes primary food production/agriculture and fisheries, food manufacturing and distribution, product claims certifications such as Organics/Non-GMO (including NSF’s subsidiary Quality Assurance International), and nutrition and wellness (including supplements and cosmetics).

Resources and Links:

For more information about the show, head to work with Lindsey on improving your nutrition, head to: http://www.lindseycortes.com/

Join REDS Recovery Membership: http://www.lindseycortes.com/reds

WaveBye Supplements – Menstrual cycle support code LindseyCortes for 15% off: http://wavebye.co

Previnex Supplements – Joint Health Plus, Muscle Health Plus, plant-based protein, probiotics, and more; code CORTES15 for 15% off: previnex.com

Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast Archive & Search Tool – Search by sport, condition, or topic: lindseycortes.com/podcast

Female Athlete Nutrition Community – YouTube, Instagram @‌femaleathletenutrition, and private Facebook group

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Host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast takes a brief hiatus and uses this time to highlight notable episodes from the past year. While outlining the podcast's mission to simplify nutrition for female athletes and combat harmful body image expectations, Lindsey recommends standout episodes, such as discussions on sustainable farming, eating disorders, menstrual cycle health, and supplement transparency.

The episode also promotes awareness of RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and offers resources for listeners facing nutrition challenges. Lindsey emphasizes the importance of subscribing and revisiting past episodes during the break.

Episode Highlights:

Resources and Links:

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In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes discusses the importance of nutrition during a break from sports. Highlighting common fears and misconceptions around weight gain and muscle loss, Lindsey explains why metabolism and body composition do not drastically change during short breaks.

She emphasizes the need for proper refueling and maintaining adequate nutrition to ensure athletes are energized and ready to resume training. Additionally, Lindsey shares her personal updates, including an upcoming move to Boston for better medical care for her son. She announces a brief hiatus from the podcast, set to return in February with fresh content.

Episode Highlights:

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In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes, a sports dietitian and lifelong athlete, delves into the complex world of sugar. Lindsey discusses the different types of sugars (glucose, fructose, galactose, and others) and explains the importance of carbohydrates for athletes. She differentiates between natural sugars, added sugars, and artificial sweeteners, emphasizing their roles and impacts on athletic performance.

The podcast also highlights the general dietary guidelines for sugar intake and how they apply differently to athletes. Lindsey shares practical examples, fun facts, and even personal anecdotes to help listeners understand and normalize sugar consumption, especially in the context of sports nutrition. This episode aims to empower female athletes to make informed choices about their nutrition to perform at their highest level.

Episode Highlights:

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In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes speaks with Angela R. Lewis, a former professional basketball player, author, and leadership strategist. They discuss the confusion surrounding nutrition and body image expectations for female athletes.

Angela shares her journey from feeling uncomfortable with her height at a young age to building confidence through basketball. She introduces her 6V framework for personal growth and development, applicable to athletes and beyond. Angela also talks about her new children's book, 'A Ball and A Chance,' and the importance of creating supportive communities. The episode emphasizes transitioning life skills from sports to other areas and the importance of staying in community for personal growth.

Episode Highlights:

Connect with Angela:

Resources and Links:

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In this episode, Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes, a sports dietitian and host of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, interviews David Block, CEO of Previnex. The episode delves into the struggles and confusions surrounding nutrition, particularly for female athletes who face societal pressures on body image. Lindsey introduces David, detailing his impressive career transition from a hedge fund manager to leading Previnex, a company dedicated to producing high-quality nutritional supplements.

David discusses his inspiration and mission to create best-in-class supplements, addressing the flaws in the supplement industry from quality control to transparency. They explore Previnex’s rigorous testing standards, the impressive effectiveness of their Joint Health Plus product, and the impact of their groundbreaking Get Health, Give Health program, which donates vitamins to malnourished children for every customer order. The conversation emphasizes creating genuine health benefits, maintaining high standards, and the broader mission of improving lives globally.

Episode Highlights:

As the CEO of Previnex, David has the great privilege of leading a company that

Prior to Previnex, David was a hedge fund manager and Wall Street research

Resources and Links:

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In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes delves into how to boost the immune system during the winter months to prevent common colds and flu. She addresses common misconceptions about nutrition, the importance of adequate calorie intake, and highlights essential nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc that can help reduce the severity and duration of illnesses.

Lindsey also discusses practical food-based approaches and supplements to incorporate as part of daily routines for improved immune support. Additionally, she touches on the role of honey, garlic, and echinacea, sharing practical tips on how athletes can integrate these into their diets. This episode serves as an educational resource for female athletes striving to maintain optimal health and performance during the colder seasons.

Episode Highlights:

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In this episode, sports dietician Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes addresses common concerns about food-related stress and holiday weight gain for female athletes, advocating for a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity. Lindsey emphasizes the importance of integrating holiday foods into a balanced diet rather than restricting or overindulging.

Her two main tips are to shift to an abundant mindset, recognizing that holiday foods are available year-round, and to work these foods into daily nutrition plans. She also stresses the importance of other health aspects like managing stress, sleep, and staying hydrated and active. The episode aims to help female athletes enjoy holiday foods without guilt and maintain their wellness.

Episode Highlights:

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The podcast centers on the importance of nutrition for female athletes and the confusion surrounding it. Host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes, a sports dietitian, introduces Dr. Demetra Mydlo, a chiropractor and former athlete who shares her personal journey with an eating disorder in her memoir, 'The Weight of Winning: Hustling for Worthiness Through Sport and an Eating Disorder'.

Dr. Deme discusses the complexities of eating disorders, the importance of professional support, and how her own experiences have shaped her practice in women's health. The episode highlights the struggles and recovery processes of female athletes, emphasizing the need for proper nourishment, holistic health, and supportive networks.

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Resources and Links:

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In this solo episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes addresses recent concerns about lead in protein powders. She draws from an October 2025 Consumer Reports article which revealed that out of 23 tested protein products, over two-thirds contained lead levels higher than recommended for daily intake.

Lindsey explains the significance of this finding, the implications for various demographics including children and pregnant women, and offers practical advice on choosing safer protein powder alternatives while simultaneously admitting that the consumer reports article created unnecessary fear mongering as the limits which Consumer Reports set for lead was much lower than any other current standards. She emphasizes the importance of whole foods over supplements and encourages informed consumer choices. Additionally, Lindsey provides updates on her website services and partnerships aimed at supporting female athletes.

Episode Highlights:

Resources and Links:

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