At Cohen Health & Performance, we often talk about the importance of looking at the whole athlete. Great training and great physical therapy matter, but they are only part of the equation.
In our latest CHP Spotlight Interview, we sat down with registered dietitian Emily Arkin, founder of RD Emily & Team, to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of performance, recovery, and long-term health: nutrition. Emily and her team work with athletes, active adults, and individuals navigating a wide variety of nutrition concerns, helping people cut through the noise and create sustainable strategies that fit their lives.
Meet Emily Arkin, RD
Emily Arkin is a registered dietitian and owner of RD Emily & Team, a group nutrition practice serving the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Her team specializes in sports nutrition, eating disorder recovery, gastrointestinal health, cardiometabolic health, and more. Their approach focuses on helping people make informed decisions about nutrition without relying on restrictive diets or one-size-fits-all recommendations.
One of the Biggest Problems Facing Young Athletes
One of the most valuable parts of our conversation centered around a challenge we frequently see in high school athletes: under-fueling.
According to Emily, many young athletes simply are not eating enough to support the demands of training, competition, recovery, growth, and everyday life. This is often unintentional. Busy schedules, school, practices, games, social activities, and a lack of planning can make it difficult for athletes to consistently consume enough calories throughout the day.
The consequences can be significant:
- Slower recovery between practices and games
- Increased fatigue
- Reduced performance
- Difficulty building strength and muscle
- Higher risk of recurrent injuries
- Poor sleep and recovery
As Emily explains, nutrition is not separate from athletic performance. It directly impacts how athletes train, recover, adapt, and stay healthy throughout a season.
Why Nutrition Advice for Athletes Is Different
One topic that generated a great discussion was the difference between nutrition advice for the general public and nutrition advice for athletes.
Many nutrition messages online focus on avoiding sugar, cutting calories, or restricting certain foods. While those recommendations may make sense in some contexts, athletes have very different demands.
Emily explained that carbohydrates, including simple sugars in the right situations, can be valuable fuel sources for training and competition. Athletes often need strategies that support performance and recovery rather than simply following generalized nutrition trends.
The takeaway?
Athletes are not the general population. Their nutritional needs should reflect the demands they place on their bodies.
Nutrition and Injury Recovery
As physical therapists, one area we are particularly passionate about is helping injured athletes return to the activities they love.
During our conversation, Emily discussed a common mistake athletes make after getting injured: dramatically reducing their food intake because they are no longer training at full capacity.
While it may seem logical to eat less when activity levels decrease, recovery itself requires energy. Healing tissues, maintaining muscle mass, and supporting rehabilitation all require adequate nutrition. Athletes who aggressively cut calories during recovery may unintentionally make the rehab process more difficult.
This is something we see regularly at CHP. The best rehabilitation program in the world can only take someone so far if recovery, sleep, stress management, and nutrition are not supporting the process.
Performance Is Bigger Than Any One Provider
One of the themes that emerged throughout the interview was the idea that optimal performance requires a team approach.
Physical therapists, strength coaches, physicians, nutrition professionals, parents, and athletes all play important roles. When these pieces work together, athletes are positioned to recover more effectively, perform at a higher level, and stay healthy longer.
If you are an athlete, parent, coach, or active adult looking to better understand how nutrition impacts performance and recovery, we encourage you to watch the full CHP Spotlight Interview with Emily Arkin.
At Cohen Health & Performance, we believe the best outcomes happen when every aspect of health and performance works together. Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools available, and this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you get more out of your training, recovery, and overall health.
To learn more about Emily, click on the link! https://www.rdemily.com
