Paralympians face nuanced nutritional challenges. Dietitians seek solutions

PARIS - Like many other athletes, Justin Phongsavanh has his own take on the chocolate muffins in the Paralympic Village.

"It doesn't get much better than that," said Phongsavanh, a U.S. Paralympian and bronze medalist in the seated javelin. Phongsavanh and other Paralympians can't survive on muffins alone, though. They and their diet teams face complex challenges, but scientists and sports personnel are working on their own solutions, even as research lags.

The biggest challenge with paranutrition strategies is that athletes' needs vary greatly, not only based on their sport, but also on their limitations and other underlying conditions, says ...