
What ADHD Athletes Actually Need Nutritionally
From The Thinklete Podcast by derek shunk
May 17, 2026 · 56 min · Season 1 · Episode 14
About this episode
The episode discusses the nutritional needs of ADHD athletes and how it impacts their focus and performance.
Our guest this episode is Amy Pieczarka, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with over 40 years of experience specializing in functional nutrition, gut health, food sensitivities, and personalized nutrition strategies. She is the creator and director of PrevyMedica Nutrition Services, where she helps individuals and families improve focus, regulation, health, and performance through nutrition.Most parents are trying to coach behavior… without realizing what may actually be driving it.In this episode, Derek and Aleka sit down with registered dietitian nutritionist Amy Pizarca to break down the connection between nutrition, emotional regulation, focus, and performance in neurodivergent athletes.They discuss:-Why ADHD athletes often have higher nutritional demandsThe gut-brain connection and how it impacts behavior-Food sensitivities and inflammation-Why blood sugar regulation matters for focus and emotional control-How nutrition affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin-Strategies for selective eaters and sensory-sensitive kids-Pre-game and post-game fueling tips-What parents can do if ADHD medication suppresses appetiteSimple changes families can start making…
People in this episode
Hosts: Derek Shunk, Aleka
Guest: Amy Pieczarka
Topics covered
- ADHD
- nutrition
- emotional regulation
- neurodivergent athletes
- food sensitivities
- performance
Keywords
- ADHD
- nutrition
- gut health
- emotional regulation
- performance
- food sensitivities
- blood sugar regulation
- neurotransmitters
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Prevymedica Nutrition Services
More episodes of The Thinklete Podcast
- Why ADHD Athletes Struggle With Emotions (And How to Fix It) · May 3, 2026 · 36 min
- From Participation to Leadership: Inside the Special Olympics Movement · April 14, 2026 · 36 min
- The Bullied Brain: What Coaches Are Doing That Harms Kids · April 7, 2026 · 1h 12m
- Inside IMG: How Elite Athletes Are Actually Built · April 2, 2026 · 49 min
- The Youth Sports Problem No One Wants to Talk About · March 19, 2026 · 47 min
- Helping Neurodivergent Athletes Handle Pressure, Mistakes, and Competition · March 12, 2026 · 57 min
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