This month, Jennie joined Bob for a conversation with Ashley Besecker of Functional Performance Nutrition. Ashley works with professional athletes to optimize their performance, longevity, and recovery using nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. She started using DNA testing about 11 years ago to offer preventative medicine and has since pivoted her business to specialize in professional sports. The process starts by collecting and analyzing DNA, then determining what type of nutrition and training should be implemented to minimize the risk of injury and maximize performance.
We spoke with Ashley about some steps tactical athletes can take to utilize the same information in their careers. Ashley highlighted the importance of training and maintaining your body to cope with the physical aspects of being a first responder. She also discussed the importance of having comprehensive labs drawn regularly. Even though we can’t all hire Ashley, she does have an ebook available on her website, www.ashleybesecker.com, that contains information on what labs to ask for, what supplements to take and how much, and macronutrient breakdowns. She also recommends tracking health markers using wearable technology to stay ahead of health issues that may be developing but not creating any current indicators.
Ashley recommended three books to our listeners that she has all of her athletes read.
· Sports Nutrition Guidebook by Nancy Clark: https://nancyclarkrd.com/product/sports-nutrition-guidebook-fifth-edition/
· Blue Zones by Dan Buettner: https://www.bluezones.com/books/
· Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
This was such an interesting conversation, and we could have talked to Ashley for much longer, don’t be surprised if you see her on Assuming Command again in the future. In the meantime, you can find her on Instagram, Twitter, and Tick Tock @ashleyabesecker and at www.ashleybesecker.com. She also has a podcast, Functional Performance Nutrition, that features many of her clients as guests. Feel free to reach out to her on one of her platforms with your nutrition related questions!
