Module 2: Macronutrient Recommendations for Athletes Flashcards
___________ are the primary fuel for muscle contraction
Carbohydrates
Consuming carbohydrates will…
- Maintain high rates of carb oxidation
- Reduce ratings of perceived exertion
- Increase endurance capacity
- Delay the onset of fatigue
- Prevent hypoglycemia
What should be your goals in regards to blood glucose levels during sport?
- To keep BG levels as stable and as close to the normal range as possible during exercise
- Less variation = constant availability of CHO to fuel activity = stable performance (ATP substrate present)
- Some variation will occur BUT adequate nutrition during training and before, during, and after activity can help to limit the magnitude of BG fluctuations
- To prevent hypoglycemia
- To spare glycogen
- The longer you can keep glucose levels maintained and glycogen storage the longer you will be able to go
What do carb stores at rest look like?
- 4g in blood, a lot stored in muscle
- Based on diet, if not eating carb rich will pull glycogen and BG levels drop
What do carb stores after 1 hr of exercise look like?
- Reduction in muscle glycogen
- Reduction in liver glycogen
- BG levels same
What do carb stores after 2 hours of exercise look like?
- Greater reductions in liver and muscle glycogen than hour 1
- Slight reduction in BG
What do carb stores after 3 hours of exercise look like?
Greater reductions in everything compared to hour 1 and 2
What do carb stores after 4 hrs of exercise look like?
All stores are depleted and hypoglycemic
______________ influences the size of glycogen stores
Diet
- Want to maximize glycogen stores to prolong activity
- High carb diet = more glycogen storage
What is hypoglycemia?
Abnormally low levels of glucose in blood. <3.3mmol/L
What does hypoglycemia trigger?
- Triggers the release of counter-regulatory hormones to prevent further declines in BG levels and promote gluconeogenesis:
- Epinephrine/norepinephrine
- Glucagon
- Cortisol
What are the adrenergic manifestations of hypoglycemia?
- Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness (distracted)
- Palpitations, tachycardia
- Pallor, coldness, clamminess
- Dilated pupils (mydriasis), blurred vision
- Feeling of numbness “pins and needles” (paresthesia)
- Fatigue, weakness, incoordination
- Impaired judgement
What are the glucagon/cortisol manifestations of hypoglycemia?
- hunger
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort
- Headache
What impact does hormonal response to hypoglycemia have on sport?
None of the symptoms associated with cortisol/glucagon/epinephrine hormones allow for strong sport performance. Need to be eating before performance
When there is a decline in serum glucose what will result?
(Feedback loop)
What are the 4 major hormones involved in regulation of blood glucose? What do they stimulate and what is their action?
How can you prevent hypoglycemia in athletes?
- Adequate CHO intake on a daily basis → promotes glycogen storage and euglycemia
- CHO rich, pre-training or pre-event meal or snack BEFORE activity → ensures the athlete’s BG levels are within normal range at the onset of activity
- CHO feeding DURING prolonged activity → Tops up blood glucose levels and spares glycogen
- CHO rich re-feeding AFTER activity → Promotes repletion of glycogen stores used to fuel activity
When should athletes eat before performance and what should they eat?
- > 1 hr carb feeding to top up
- Should be in the form of glucose that is readily available (gummies, gatorade) rather than starch but it depends on the person
- Some drinks like biosteel do not provide CHO so not helpful during
Why might someone need a bedtime snack?
Glycogen stores may be broken down in the middle of the night because they are undereating. By breakfast have broken down glycogen and not hungry. Need a bedtime snack!
What is reactive hypoglycemia in athletes?
- Condition in which low BG levels are induced by a combo of:
1. The timing of an athlete’s intake of CHO-rich foods/beverages +
2. The time of the start of activity - Excessive glucose intake by an athlete whose BG levels are marginally acceptable in the hour befor activity can trigger an excessive release of insulin before exercise promotes SM glucose uptake
- Exercise ( muscle contraction) also stimulates glucose uptae
- The result = hypoglycemia
How can you prevent reactive hypoglycemia?
- Low glycemic index, CHO rich, pre-training or pre-event meal or snack BEFORE activity → ensures the athlete’s BG levels are within the normal range at the onset of activity (prevents reactive insulin trigger)
- High glycemic index, CHO feeding DURING prolonged activity → Tops up, BG levels quickly and spares glycogen
- High Glycemic index, CHO rich re-feeding AFTER activity → Promotes repletion of glycogen sotes used to fuel activity
What should athletes eat prior to sport performance and throughout rest of the day?
(Carbohydrates)
- To support immediate sport performance, (pre/during/post exercise) the focus should be on quickly oxidized CHO
- Throughout the rest of the day athletes should focus on nutrient-rich sources of CHO, regardless of oxidation rate, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (All keep BG levels steady)
What is the recommended fiber intake from food
25-30g/day
What should athletes be aware of for zero calorie drinks?
- Zero calorie = zero energy
- Provide fluids and electrolytes but do not provide CHO!!
Why is daily CHO intake for athletes so high?
- Due to additional energy demands of training, CHO recommendations for athletes are higher than the general population
- The recommendations are meant to support CHO availability for the muscle and central NS based on the demands of the sport
- To support energy demands, recommendations are based on body weight
How should you determine CHO intake for athletes?
- Determining the right amount is an art and a science - choose a starting point based on recommendations, and then alter within the range based on how the athlete feels
- Based on type of activity
What are the recommendations for CHO intake?
What are the recommendations for CHO intake with strength training?
- 4-7g/kg/day
- CHO may increase the total amount of work an athlete is able to complete during longer duration, high volume training sessions
- Athletes should consume an amount of CHO that they can tolerate and makes them feel energized during their workout
What amounts of CHO should endurance athletes have according to recommendations? Why?
- 6-10g/kg/day - moderate training
- 8-12 g/kg/day - heavy training
- Fatigue in an endurance athlete is often due to depleted muscle glycogen and low levels of BG. Need big glycogen stores justifying need for increased CHO intake
What is another name for Carb loading?
Glycogen super-compensation
What is carb loading? How has the theory changed over time?
- Ergogenic dietary strategies designed to maximize glycogen stores in endurance athletes
- Involved dietary manipulations - CHO intake
- Evidence base on HOW to approach CHO loading has changed since it’s first trials in the 1970s
- Contemporary CHO loading protocols are significantly different than what was recommended at the time that this approach was first conceived
What is the theoretical basis behind CHO loading?
- Low CHO diets deplete glycogen stores
- High CHO diets are known to increase muscle glycogen stores in trained individuals
→ More glycogen = more substrate for aerobic metabolism = reduced risk for “Hitting the Wall” - Acutely increasing CHO intake in the days before an event will increase or super-compensate glycogen stores and enhance endurance
What was the original CHO protocol?
Originally, CHO loading protocols involved:
1. Eliminating all high CHO foods for 5-7 days before a race or competition to “empty” glycogen stores PLUS
2. Hard training to further deplete glycogen stores PLUS
3. Eating a large amount of CHO rich foods the night before the event to enhance glycogenesis
- This offered some performance gains but has been replaced by a newer, better approach
What is the modern carbohydrate loading protocol?
- Athletes should follow a CHO rich training diet most of the time to ensure sufficient pre-competition glycogen stores
- One week before the race or competition:
1. Increase CHO intake gradually: peaking one day before the race or competition
2. Decrease fat intake at the same time to allow for more CHO rich foods
3. At the same time, decrease or taper training across the week leading up to the race or competition to build up glycogen stores - Target:
→ 36-48 hr of 10-12 g/kg body weight/24 hr
→ Athletes may choose CHO rich sources that are low in fibre/residue (too filling) and easily consumed