Page 88 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Fall 2014

An Ongoing Series

The 10 Commandments of Nutrition: 2014

Patricia A. Deuster, PhD; Andrea T. Lindsey, MS; Frank K. Butler Jr, MD

ABSTRACT
The US Special Operations Command requires sound The US Special Operations Command has been interested
recommendations on nutrition to ensure optimal per- in nutrition for many years, and various educational
for mance of Special Operations personnel. New informa- products have been developed for the SOF community
tion continues to emerge, and previous recommendations in this area. However, new information continues to
need to be modified as the evidence base continues to emerge, and nutrition recommendations must be updated
grow. The first 10 Commandments of Nutrition were to reflect the changing evidence base. The first 10 Com-
published in the SEAL professional journal Full Mission mandments of Nutrition were published in the SEAL
Profile in 1992, published for the second time in this professional journal Full Mission Profile in 1992, and
journal in 2005, and now revised a second time to reflect then updated and published in this journal in 2005. Once
the newest science. Whether you are part of the Special again, they have been revised to reflect the additional
Operations Forces (SOF) community or an athlete seek- studies and updated recommendations that have become
ing to improve your performance, these are simple and available in recent years. Importantly, many of the previ-
helpful nutrition guidelines to follow. ous concepts and principles remain true, but the details
and applications may be different. Whether you are part
Keywords: dietary supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, pro- of the SOF community or simply have an interest in im-
tein, carbohydrate, grains, fresh fruits and vegetables proving your athletic performance and overall health,
these commandments will help you to achieve your goals.

Introduction 1. Do not believe anything you read or hear about
nutrition that comes from someone trying to sell you
Nutrition is always a controversial topic and one in something.
which recommendations seem to change every few years
or so based on new science, marketing strategies, pop This first commandment has not changed at all in the past
culture, and/or creativity and popularity. Individuals 20-plus years and is more relevant today than ever before
are interested in nutrition but often for very different with social media, Internet websites, and other commer-
reasons: some want a quick fix to solve their weight cial marketing venues. Marketing strategies for dietary
problem—a pill or liquid to help them shed unwanted supplements (DSs) may target military personnel directly,
pounds rapidly. Weight loss is an important topic: data but caution much be exercised with a wide variety of com-
show that in 2011−2012, at least 68.5% (65.2−71.6%) mercial, off-the-shelf performance enhancement products:
of Americans were overweight or obese, independent of sports bars, beverages, gels, and chews, as well as recovery
1
race and ethnicity. SOF personnel and many others are beverages and energy drinks. Some of these products are
often searching for a magic bullet to help optimize their foods and some are DSs, but regardless of how they are
mission performance or recover from the stress of ar- labeled, some of these products are touted with misleading
duous training or missions. 2−11 Whereas an athlete may and exaggerated claims by their manufacturers.
want to increase lean muscle mass, improve strength,
and shave minutes off their run, bike, or swim time, There is no doubt that some commercial DS products
the end goal for SOF personnel is optimal physical and can be useful in deployed settings; however, all products
mental performance during demanding missions. must be reviewed to ensure they meet the SOF criteria

80