252: Electrolyte Products & Sports Nutrition Innovation with Jess Cerra

In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast, host Lindsey Elizabeth Cortes discusses the complexities of nutrition, especially for female athletes, and the high expectations placed on them. Special guest Jess Cerra, Vice President of Product and Community Development at Elite Active Nutrition, shares her journey from an elite athlete to an entrepreneur in the sports nutrition industry.

They dive deep into the importance of electrolytes, how sweat testing can help optimize hydration and balance, and the innovative products offered by Salt Stick. They also touch on Jess's personal athletic achievements and provide practical advice on managing nutrition and hydration for optimal performance.

Episode Highlights:

• 01:22 The Impact of Menstrual Health on Female Athletes
• 03:01 Meet Our Guest: Jess Cerra
• 04:58 Jess Cerra's Athletic Journey and Education
• 09:43 Challenges and Triumphs in Professional Cycling
• 11:57 The Role of Mentorship in Sports
• 14:38 Transitioning to a Career in Sports Nutrition
• 16:03 Introduction to Elite Active Nutrition
• 21:35 The Importance of Electrolytes for Athletes
• 30:22 Recognizing Signs of Heat Stroke and Dehydration
• 31:03 Importance of Electrolytes in Recovery
• 31:43 Understanding Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS)
• 32:23 Resources for Managing REDS
• 34:12 Practical Tips for Sweat Testing
• 36:06 Electrolyte Needs for Endurance Athletes
• 38:25 Debunking Myths About Electrolytes
• 39:09 Choosing the Right Electrolyte Products
• 41:52 Sweat Testing Methods and Tools
• 48:33 Electrolyte Needs for Different Athletes
• 56:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

Cerra's athletic journey began with triathlons, where she quickly excelled, becoming the XTERRA amateur national champion in 2011 and ranking sixth in the professional women's division by 2011. Transitioning to professional road cycling in 2015, she competed for UCI Continental teams including Twenty16 (now Twenty24) and Hagens Berman–Supermint. Her notable achievements include winning the sprint classification and Stage 4 at the 2018 Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Beyond her athletic pursuits, Cerra is the founder of JoJé Bar, a gluten-free, real-food energy bar designed for endurance athletes, which became part of the Alete Active Nutrition portfolio in 2021. She also co-founded The Last Best Ride, a gravel cycling event in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana, which allocates its proceeds to scholarships for women pursuing post-secondary education.

Use code FAN20 for 20% off at saltstick.com

Resources and Links:

• Follow Jess on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesscerra/?hl=en
• Follow SaltStick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltstick/?hl=en
• For more information about the show, head to work with Lindsey on improving your nutrition, head to: http://www.lindseycortes.com/
• Join REDS Recovery Membership: http://www.lindseycortes.com/reds
• WaveBye Supplements – Menstrual cycle support code LindseyCortes for 15% off: http://wavebye.co
• Previnex Supplements – Joint Health Plus, Muscle Health Plus, plant-based protein, probiotics, and more; code CORTES15 for 15% off: previnex.com
• Female Athlete Nutrition Podcast Archive & Search Tool – Search by sport, condition, or topic: lindseycortes.com/podcast
• Female Athlete Nutrition Community – YouTube, Instagram @‌femaleathletenutrition, and private Facebook group

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