Group items tagged

We know that for athletes to optimize their performance and be successful, they must consume efficient amounts of nutrients from carbohydrates... Here are a few facts and tips about carb loading, its importance, who benefits, and more. By: Chuck Rudolph, MEd, RD Nov 25, 2009 Email More Article Summary: Endurance athletes will benefit from optimizing glycogen stores. Performance athlete should keep glycogen stores packed at all times. Carbs are the primary energy source for intense endurance exercise. Performance is defined as "the execution or accomplishment of work, acts, feats, etc." Today, we know a lot about how nutrition can affect the strength, speed and performance of athletes. We also know that for athletes to optimize their performance and be successful, they must consume efficient amounts of nutrients from carbohydrates, fats and proteins throughout the day. The main question is, "How can nutrition go above and beyond for performance when taken pre, during and post intensive exercise/training?" Click Image To Enlarge. Athletes Must Consume Efficient Amounts Of Nutrients FromCarbohydrates, Fats And Proteins Throughout The Day. What Impact Does Nutrition Have On Performance? Most of us already know that carbohydrates are the most readily available nutrient for e

In fact, current research is advising endurance/intense training athletes to consume 0.5-1.0 grams of carbohydrate per minute (intensity pending) during training or competition. Trying to consume more carbohydrates has only indicated intestinal distress and it is believed that the type of carbohydrate is the limiting factor.

A carbohydrate-loading diet, also called a carb-loading diet, is a strategy to increase the amount of fuel stored in your muscles to improve athletic performance. Carbohydrate loading generally involves greatly increasing the amount of carbohydrates you eat several days before a high-intensity endurance athletic event.

Your muscles normally store only small amounts of glycogen — enough to support you during recreational exercise activities. If you exercise intensely for more than 90 minutes, your muscles may run out of glycogen. At that point, you may start to become fatigued, and your performance may suffer.

But with carbohydrate loading, you may be able to store up enough energy in your muscles to give you the stamina to make it through longer endurance events without overwhelming fatigue

A carbohydrate is a special type of calorie which contains extra energy, which is why you'll feel more energetic when eating foods which are rich in carbohydrates.

truth is that not all carbs are fattening, because there are different types of carbs -- there are "good carbs" and there are "bad carbs"

Yet they're doing the same thing you've been told to do your entire lifting career: Consume carbohydrates post-workout.

While the idea of carbohydrate-laden post-workout nutrition is a sexy sell to athletes and physique enthusiasts alike, where does it come from, and what does it mean?

Pretty much everyone who works out shares three basic post-workout recovery goals: To begin the recovery process To support muscle growth To support our hormones and metabolism after a hard training session

Glucose, which is transported by your bloodstream to organs and tissues after eating carbohydrates, provides an essential source of energy for both your muscles and brain when working out. As energy and glucose needs to increase with exercise, it's important to eat enough carbohydrates in order to fuel your workouts. Having low blood glucose levels during exercise harms performance and can lead to physical and mental fatigue, sometimes resulting in weakness, dizziness and hypoglycemia. Glucose also prevents the body from using protein for energy.

When glucose isn't needed for immediate energy, the body stores it as glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscle. Glycogen stores are especially important when working out, as the body's energy demands may exceed the amount supplied by glucose in the bloodstream after prolonged exercise or when exercising with insufficient carbohydrate intake. According to Iowa State University, during low-intensity workouts, glycogen stores can be used to increase glucose levels in the bloodstream for as long as 90 minutes -- whereas during high-intensity exercise, glycogen stores provide energy for only about 20 minutes. Active people therefore need to replenish glucose regularly by eating plenty of carbohydrates. However, in less-active people with adequate glycogen stores, additional glucose is stored as fat.

In a world that is obsessed with losing weight - you are interested in gaining weight!

People predispositioned to skinniness are commonly referred to as "hard gainers." This is the cool way to label your scrawny frame despite the fact that your body turns into a Number 2 pencil when you wear yellow!

n the skinny guy's defense, the reality is that you have been cursed with traits like Lamborghini-type metabolism, giraffe like limbs, and the strength of a senior citizen. You have to fight with every bone in your body to do something about your small frame and to keep up to your male buddies who seem to grow muscle just by sneezing - those muscle freaks piss me off just as much you!

Q: I've heard it is more important to worry about carbohydrates than calories. Is this true? A: By focusing only on carbohydrates, you can still eat too many calories. Also, if you drastically reduce the variety of foods in your diet, you could end up sacrificing vital nutrients and not be able to sustain the diet over time.

Adding Good Carbohydrates

Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images Active people involved in resistance training regularly take protein supplements to promote muscle strength, enhance muscle recovery and gain muscle size, as acknowledged in an article by Robert R Wolfe in the August 2000 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

An effective protein supplement used before or after working out should contain the nine essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body. The optimum combination of amino acids renders them "complete proteins." These are protein supplements derived from animal or dairy sources.

Writing in Bodybuilding.com, bodybuilder Hugo Rivera categorizes five types of protein used in supplements according to their bio-availability value--ability of the body to assimilate and use protein.

Carbohydrate energy Carbohydrates provide your body with energy fuel.

Failing to provide your body with quality carbohydrates for your workout will make you quickly feel tired and worn out

Avoid processed foods like white rice, white bread and white pasta. Also avoid sugary drinks and foods for the same reason.

What are the types of carbohydrates?

following strategies will stabilize your blood sugars

Eat every 4 to 5 hours

provides your brain and body with a constant source of fuel.

Protein-rich foods can be delicious as well as nutritious -- just think of a creamy, thick cup of yogurt or a savory, juicy grilled steak.

While high-protein foods have a bounty of valuable nutritional and health properties, however, the benefits can turn into risks if you eat too many of them over an extended period of time.

According to Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian for MayoClinic.com, you may experience constipation if you follow a high-protein diet for several months or longer.

Protein is second to only water as the most abundant nutrient in the human body. All living tissue is made of 22 amino acids, amino acids that are only present in protein

The amino acids into which proteins are broken down to maintain the health of skin, mouth, eyes, hair; stabilizes appetite; necessary for carbohydrate metabolism; weight control, essential for normal functioning of the heart, nerve tissues, muscles, digestion, learning capacity, replacement of old cells and growth.

These amino acids work to repair muscle tissues and structures that are damaged during life and exercise. Cellular waste if not destroyed causes a bevy of ailments/disease and hinder the bodies metabolic processes.

Daily calorie requirements depend a number of factors such as age, activity level and genetics, so each person may burn energy at a slightly different rate.

According to experts from Columbia University, research has shown that you should consume an additional 2,270 to 3,630 calories per week to build as much as a single pound of muscle during that time span. This equals about 500 additional calories per day. A typical 180-lb. male needing about 2,700 calories per day would therefore require at least 3,200 calories. Furthermore, an hour of intense weightlifting burns 500 calories. Added up, this same person may consume as much as 3,700 calories on lifting days just to properly bulk up.

Every day, a topflight athlete or bodybuilder needs approximately 0.68 to 0.9 g of protein per pound of body weight. Most people who want to build some muscle will probably settle for less than the high end but more than the 0.36 g recommended for the average person. Without the proper consumption of protein, the muscles may not grow at a rate that is in accord with the actual amount of growth facilitated by strength training sessions.