Good afternoon Mr. Jelínek,
Could you please explain how the autonomic nervous system responds in the case of long-term nutrient deficiency (meaning energy intake below the BMR value)? How can the metabolism be "restarted"?
Thank you very much for your answer.
If your intake falls below the BMR values, the metabolism responds to this as a crisis energy situation, during which it (simply put) "switches" to an energy-saving mode. This means that catabolic processes begin to prevail, which the athlete subjectively perceives as a decrease in vitality and a prolonged recovery period after exertion. Simultaneously, the immune system is weakened, increasing the risk of illness. Because the body lacks not only energy but also many nutrients, the athlete risks injury. The autonomic nervous system functions essentially in the same mode but is fundamentally influenced by catabolic processes, where the body takes a considerable amount of energy and nutrients from its own reserves. In such a situation, the only viable solution is to increase energy intake and strive to optimize the nutritional values of the diet.
Questions answered by
Mgr. Martin Jelinek
Lecturer and author of the educational system
Nutrition educator, lecturer, and author of the educational system and the ZOF learning application.
Mgr. Martin Jelínek has been systematically involved in nutrition education since 1999. He is the founder of ATAC, the educational company behind NutriCourses, and the author of an educational system focused on nutrition, healthy lifestyle, and the practical application of nutrition knowledge.
He graduated from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno. Throughout his professional career, he has combined nutrition, education, and the practical application of acquired knowledge. His educational system also includes the ZOF (Zone of Optimal Functioning) learning application, where students turn theory into practical work with meal plans.
In 2007, he launched the first intake of a six-month course focused on the education of nutrition advisors. Over time, this course became the foundation for the further development of the educational system and a range of specialised courses.