Alternalego

1. Carbohydrates

– Carbohydrate serves many functions in the body:

– It is a major energy source, particularly during high intensity exercise

– Its presence regulates fat and protein metabolism

– The nervous system relies exclusively on carbohydrate for energy

– Muscle and liver glycogen are synthesized from carbohydrate

Carbohydrate consumption and glycogen storage:

– The body stores excess carbohydrate, primarily in the muscle and liver. Because of this, carbs consumption directly influences muscle glycogen storage and the ability to train and compete. When athletes eat only as much food as hunger dictates, they often fail to consume enough carbohydrates to compensate for the amount used during training or competition. This imbalance between glycogen use and carbs intake might explain in part why some athletes become chronically fatigued and need 48 h or more to restore normal muscle glycogen levels. Athletes that train exhaustively on successive days require a diet rich…