Food is a big part of an athlete’s advantage in order to fuel the body for optimal performance. Loading up on steak, cheese laden pasta dishes can not only weigh you down, but exacerbate the inflammation that often accompanies high- intensity exercise. Developing a different way of eating that replaces inflammation-stoking saturated fats with healthful unsaturated fats can have such benefits as improving performance, raising energy levels and lowering caloric intake.
When measuring how much fat and carbohydrate a person uses for energy an elite athlete will always burn more fat than someone who exercises occasionally. The more conditioned an athlete is the more the more fat they are able to store and use for fuel. This training adaptation allows fat to be stored closer to the muscle cell wall in order to be used quickly and seamlessly as carbohydrates.
Healthful fat in the form of intramuscular triglycerides not only provides a source of sustainable energy, but also improves taste without adding calories.
Bottom Line: Food can make or break your performance especially if you are carrying around extra weight.
Food is a big part of an athlete’s advantage in order to fuel the body for optimal performance. Loading up on steak, cheese laden pasta dishes can not only weigh you down, but exacerbate the inflammation that often accompanies high- intensity exercise. Developing a different way of eating that replaces inflammation-stoking saturated fats with healthful unsaturated fats can have such benefits as improving performance, raising energy levels and lowering caloric intake.
When measuring how much fat and carbohydrate a person uses for energy an elite athlete will always burn more fat than someone who exercises occasionally. The more conditioned an athlete is the more the more fat they are able to store and use for fuel. This training adaptation allows fat to be stored closer to the muscle cell wall in order to be used quickly and seamlessly as carbohydrates.
Healthful fat in the form of intramuscular triglycerides not only provides a source of sustainable energy, but also improves taste without adding calories.
Bottom Line: Food can make or break your performance especially if you are carrying around extra weight.