sport nutrition

I put your question to our Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=214957361866896&id=6140642631]

Christopher says, 'Whereas energy balance is needed for a healthy lifestyle it's even more important for sports performance.

Think of a marathon where the race lasts over 90 mins, of the athlete does not take on extra carbs, water and electrolytes then the ath...lete will obviously become dehydrated, the lack of calcium will restrict muscular contractions (possible cramp) and lack of carbs means the body will eventually shut down after being forced to slow down... (read up on the Kreb cycle).'

Whilst Duncan replies, 'The demands on the body during interns of available energy reserves vary according to the type of excercises undertaken. Bouts or prolonged cardiovascular excercises require stored carbohydrate (glycogen) as an energy source. Whilst intens...e weight training or explosive sports performance requires readily available reserves. However both types if activity cause depletion if bodies reserves and muscular breakdown and fatigue, which ideally require extra protein for recovery. In a nutshell, regardless of the type of activity or excercises undertaken the body functions at it's optimum level when supplied with the correct fuel at the ideal time! This is how we define Energy Balance. Ideal energy balance therfore determines optimun performance and recovery. '

thanks for the reply it was very helpful

can someone please help me with the description of the energy expenditure in sports performance?