Is food the ultimate performance enhancer? More and more, athletes, nutrition experts, and fitness buffs are saying yes! The right mix of carbohydrate, protein, and fat can mean the difference between an Olympic gold medal in
CARBOHYDRATES FOR GOING THE DISTANCE:
Since the 1920’s, researchers have known that eating carbohydrates enhances performance. Carbohydrates are still being recommended to athletes and active individuals, but the amounts needed depends on the individuals sport, health and weight goals. While the body can store large amounts of protein and fat it has a limited capacity for storing carbohydrate. Athletes can store between 400 and 600 grams of carbohydrate (1,600 to 2,000 calories). Most endurance athletes can burn through glycogen store in 90- 120 minutes, once glycogen is depleted the next energy source available is fat, which muscle can not burn at the same rate as carbohydrate. The result is fatigue that can be so debilitating an athlete may have a difficult time moving.
Fueling up mid-workout is a science. If the body can only absorb 240 calories of carbohydrate an hour, if you eat to much the carbohydrate stays in your gut which can lead to cramping. to little leads to poor performance. What’s the solution, a lab in the
