Global nutrition company Herbalife Nutrition has recently organized a knowledge-sharing session entitled “Soy Protein and Sports Performance” with the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), with the aim of supporting budding Malaysian athletes and aspiring sports scientists that include nutritionists and dietitians.
The session was conducted by Dr. Dana Ryan, director of sports performance, nutrition and education at Herbalife Nutrition.
Dr. Dana Ryan works with top international sports teams and athletes, developing nutrition and sports performance programmes as well as designing and managing sports clinical trials. This includes US soccer team LA Galaxy, top triathlete Heather Jackson and world-famed footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also the brand ambassador for Herbalife Nutrition.
The sharing session was aimed at improving UiTM athletes’ understanding and knowledge of sports nutrition, particularly on how to adopt a proper diet and avoid sports nutrition mistakes.
More than 100 UiTM students and athletes, members from the National Sports Institute and Selangor Football Club, corporate nutritionists and dietitians, and faculty members benefitted from the session
“Sports and nutrition go hand-in-hand. This is why the saying, “you are what you eat”, resonates well with athletes. As such, the first step to adopting proper nutrition is understanding the fundamental nutrients going into one’s body,” said Dr. Dana Ryan
Highlighting an example, she said, “Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and these can come from sources such as soy, dairy and beef, to name a few. There are essential amino acids not produced by our bodies, which can only be gained by eating the right foods. As such, it is critical for athletes to get proper nutritional advice on their diets, to avoid impacting their overall performance and health. Protein plays an important role in building muscle, losing weight and even healthy ageing.”
Dr. Dana Ryan continued, “The source of protein consumed by athletes matters. When deciding on animal protein versus plant protein, it is important for athletes to ensure they get all the essential amino acids. Plant-based protein with the exception of soy protein does not provide adequate amino acids. Those adopting a plant-based diet are advised to consume a combination of foods that make a complete protein such as grains and legumes.
“Ultimately, understanding what athletes need to support their body to perform at their highest level is key to adopting proper nutrition,” she added.
UiTM Shah Alam faculty of sports science and recreation dean Prof Dr Mohad Anizu Mohd Nor said UiTM is committed to providing students with high-quality education that supports holistic development.
“Through knowledge-sharing sessions like these, we hope our students and athletes are more aware and better equipped with proper nutrition knowledge which contributes to their performance and overall health and wellbeing.
“We are confident that this partnership with Herbalife Nutrition will continue to support our aspiration of developing Global Thinking Athletes,” he said.
The knowledge sharing initiative builds on Herbalife Nutrition’s partnership with UiTM which kicked off in March 2022. Since then, the company has conducted a series of educational programmes on nutrition through workshops and conferences, bringing together diverse perspectives from Herbalife Nutrition experts from across the world. Throughout the programmes, nearly 5,000 people have benefitted.
