Nutrition Guide .

nutrition guide fueling for performance Lecture Notes.
This nutrition guide provides general guidelines to help optimize dietary intake for
sports competitors. Fueling requirements can vary depending upon an individual’s
energy expenditure, metabolism, state of health, sport, etc.
Now more than ever, athletes need accurate sports nutrition information. Optimal
nutrition is an integral part of peak performance while an inadequate diet and lack
of fuel can limit an athlete’s potential for maximum performance. Unfortunately,
there is a lot of misinformation available regarding a proper diet for athletes.
In the quest for success, many athletes will try any dietary regimen or nutritional
supplementation promising a new level of physical performance. However, an
evaluation and modification of current dietary intake can typically be employed to
help maximize peak performance.
The human body must be supplied with energy to perform its many complex
functions. As an athlete’s training and competition level increases, the body’s
energy demands also increase. Several energy systems in the body can provide
athletes with fuel as long as they are consuming the proper foods. One energy
system relies totally on carbohydrates while another uses carbohydrates as well as
fats. When an athlete works near or at maximal intensities, carbohydrates are the
prime fuel the body can use. During prolonged exercise, such as cycling, triathlons,
and long-distance swimming, the amount of fats and carbohydrates used may rise
and fall depending upon:
F Duration and intensity of the exercise
F An individual’s fitness level
F Food and drink consumed priorto and during the exercise