Athletes spend hours exercising, training, and preparing their bodies to reach the highest level of performance achievable. However, they sometimes overlook that nutrition — in addition to training — plays a critical role in determining their levels of performance.
Furthermore, it’s not just about what is eaten, but also when the food is consumed, that must be considered. Meal timing is a critical part of determining both performance and recovery for athletes.
Carbohydrates for Performance
Carbohydrates act as fuel for cells. The amount of glycogen (the stored form of glucose) in the muscles and liver determine to what capacity we are able to perform, so it’s crucial that we maintain adequate stores. When muscle glycogen is high, athletes are able to perform with intensity for an extended period of time. On the other hand, low muscle glycogen results in being quicker to fatigue and a significantly lower training intensity.
