Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/771993
High Protein Diets and the Endurance Athlete Glycogen is the stored energy in muscle, and it helps muscles retain water. This combina on is cri cal for high-intensity athle c performance. Deple ng these energy stores is hardly something that will improve athle c performance. However, research out of Ohio State University shows that our bodies can adapt to finding energy in other places, like from fat stores and that sports nutri on isn't as straight forward as it used to be. Specifically, researchers looked at elite marathoners who normally ate a low-carb diet that consisted of 10 percent carbs, 19 percent protein, and 70 percent fat, and compared them to other elite marathoners who choose to eat a diet with 59 percent carbs, 14 percent protein, and 25 percent fat. Besides their diets, the athletes were similar in their elite status, age, performance, training history, and maximum oxygen capacity. Now here's the crazy part: During a test determining the athletes' maximum oxygen intake to gauge carb- and fat- burning rates, the low-carb runners' peak fat-burning rate was 2.3-fold higher than the rate for high-carb athletes: 1.5 versus .67 grams per minute. What's more: The two groups did not differ significantly in oxygen consump on, ra ngs of perceived exer on, or calorie expenditure. If you're an endurance athlete, it may take a while to get used to performing on a high-protein diet, or even one of more fat as in this study. But it may be worth a try if you are looking for a way to improve your mes. Abby's Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 1| Page 15 N e w a t A b b y ' s