Nitrate supplementation is an effective, evidence-based dietary strategy for enhancing sports performance. The effects of dietary nitrate seem to be mediated by the ability of oral bacteria to reduce nitrate to nitrite, thus increasing the levels of nitrite in circulation that may be further reduced to nitric oxide in the body. The gut microbiota has been recently implicated in sports performance by improving muscle function through the supply of certain metabolites. In this line, skeletal muscle can also serve as a reservoir of nitrate. Here we review the bacteria of the oral cavity involved in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and the possible changes induced by nitrite and their effect on gastrointestinal balance and gut microbiota homeostasis. The potential role of gut bacteria in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and as a supplier of the signaling molecule nitric oxide to the blood circulation and muscles has not been explored in any great detail.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with an unknown etiology that is characterized by an individual’s preoccupation with their weight and body structure while denying the severity of their low body weight. Due to the fact that anorexia nervosa is multifaceted and may indicate the coexistence of genetic, social, hormonal, and psychiatric disorders, a description of non-pharmacological interventions can be used to ameliorate or reduce the symptoms of this condition. Consequently, the purpose of the present narrative review is to describe the profile’s context in the anorexic person as well as the support they would require from their family and environment. In addition, it is aimed at examining preventative and non-pharmacological interventions, such as nutritional interventions, physical activity interventions, psychological interventions, psychosocial interventions, and physical therapy interventions. To reach the narrative review aims, a critical review was conducted utilizing both primary sources, such as scientific publications, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases. Nutritional interventions include nutritional education and an individualized treatment for each patient, physical activity interventions include allowing patients to perform controlled physical activity, psychological interventions include family therapy and evaluation of the existence of other psychological disorders, psychosocial interventions include management of the relationship between the patient and social media and physical therapy interventions include relaxation massages and exercises to relieve pain. All these non-pharmacological interventions need to be individualized based on each patient’s needs.

Background: Anxiety disorders have been rising globally, particularly among adolescents and women. However, the relationship between diet, psychological traits, and anxiety levels in athletes remains underexplored. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the nutritional and psychological differences between athletes with varying anxiety levels, hypothesizing that higher anxiety correlates with unhealthier dietary habits, greater body distortion, and less adaptive psychological profiles. Methods: A total of 58 athletes (23 women, 35 men), aged 18 to 45 years (mean age = 30.2 years), participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using validated online questionnaires, including the Big Five Inventory, Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), as well as surveys assessing nutritional habits and physical activity levels. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS (v24.0), with independent t-tests to compare differences between higher and lower anxiety groups (p < 0.05). Results: It has beenindicated that higher anxiety was associated with greater neuroticism, lower psychological flexibility, and higher eating disorder symptomatology, while better sleep quality and psychological profiles correlated with lower anxiety levels. Additionally, athletes who cooked their own meals exhibited higher anxiety, whereas greater water intake and whole grain consumption were linked to lower anxiety. More frequent and intense training, particularly weight training, was also associated with reduced anxiety. Conclusion: This study concludes that anxiety in athletes is influenced by multiple lifestyle factors, including sleep quality, dietary habits, psychological traits, and exercise patterns. These findings emphasize the need for holistic approaches integrating nutrition, psychological interventions, and structured physical training to manage anxiety in athletes.

Background/Objectives: Teaching is a profession characterized by a high burden of stress. This study examined sex differences in autonomic regulation by analysing heart rate variability (HRV) and body fat percentage (BF%) in teachers, explicitly hypothesizing that the association between adiposity and autonomic modulation (HRV) would be more consistent in men. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 253 teachers from compulsory and university education during the 2022–2023 academic year. HRV was obtained from heart rate recordings, and body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Analyses were stratified by sex and, in addition to comparisons based on the sex-specific median of fat mass (kg), ANCOVA models were performed and adjusted for age, teaching experience, and educational level. Results: Teachers with higher BF% were older (43.46 vs. 40.65 years; p = 0.007) and reported higher perceived stress (7.60 vs. 6.83; p = 0.034). In men, HRV was lower in the ≥p50 adiposity group, with reductions in RMSSD and pNN50 (p = 0.015–0.016). In women, RMSSD and pNN50 were not significant (p > 0.20; small effect sizes). In adjusted analyses (ANCOVA), no significant differences were found in men for any index; in women, HRmax and the LF/HF ratio were significant (small effects), whereas the remaining indices were not. Conclusions: Greater adiposity was associated with higher stress and lower HRV, particularly in men. In women, the pattern was more heterogeneous, and significance after adjustment was limited to HRmax and the LF/HF ratio, suggesting the need for sex-specific approaches to the assessment and promotion of psychophysiological well-being in teachers.