Mgr. Kristýna Kovářová

Mgr. Kristýna Kovářová is a nutritional therapist and researcher in the field of sports nutrition. As a PhD student at the Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, she is researching Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). This condition arises when athletes fail to consume sufficient energy over a prolonged period to support both their performance and basic bodily functions. Her research focuses on the early diagnosis of REDs, as many athletes are unaware that low energy availability may be the underlying cause of prolonged fatigue, frequent illness or a decline in performance.

She also contributed to the university research project ‘Health, Nutritional and Performance‑Specific Determinants in Female Athletes’. The project examined energy availability, the menstrual cycle and the effects of weight management on the health of female athletes. She presented the results of her research in January 2025 at a specialist conference on REDs at the Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, attended by 120 students, experts and people from the sporting community. She spoke there alongside Associate Professor Michal Kumstát, a leading Czech expert in sports nutrition.

As a writer for Vilgain magazine (formerly Aktin), she conveys scientific findings on nutrition in a simple and entertaining way, helping readers to better navigate the world of diet and health. In her articles, she links nutrition to overall well‑being, for example when explaining how long‑term boredom affects mental health and physical wellbeing.