Importance of Nutrition: Food is Fuel Ashley Binns, M.S. University of Arkansas Ph.D. Student – Exercise Science
Feb 25, 2016
Importance of Nutrition: Food is Fuel
Ashley Binns, M.S.University of Arkansas
Ph.D. Student – Exercise Science
Nutrition Overview
• Macronutrients & their role in athletic performance
• Food sources & why they’re important• Energy systems• Hydration• Putting it all together
Macronutrient: Carbohydrate• The body’s preferred energy source• Two types (exogenous):
– Simple: • Rapidly increase blood sugar levels• Provide quick energy• Good options for pre- and post-workout• Slow digestion by comparing with PRO
– Complex: • Slowly released into blood• Have a higher fiber content• Better during meals, not during workouts
• Endogenous carbohydrate– Muscle glycogen: carbohydrate stored in the muscle– Liver glycogen: carbohydrate stored in the liver
Carbohydrate: Food Choice Checklist1st Choice
• Vegetables: asparagus, avocado, kidney beans, peppers, carrots
• Fruits: apple apricots, bananas, mango, peach, pear
• Grains: popcorn, steel cut oats, whole wheat, brown rice, wild rice
2nd Choice 3rd Choice• Vegetables: acorn
squash, baked potato, pumpkin, spaghetti squash, baked beans
• Fruits: fruit juices, dried fruits
• Grains: corn tortillas, couscous, whole grain pancakes, whole grain pasta/waffles/pasta, whole wheat crackers
• Potato chips• Corn bread• Rice cakes• White bagel/bread• White rice• French bread• Flour tortillas• Cake, candy• Cookies, ice cream,
pie• Soda• Honey
Macronutrient: Protein• The building blocks of human and animal structure• Functions include:– Formation of the brain, nervous system, blood, muscle,
skin, and hair– Transport mechanism for iron, vitamins, minerals and
oxygen– Needed for muscle growth and to repair muscle after
exercise– Helps decrease soreness & fatigue– Helps with satiety.
Protein: Food Choice Checklist1st Choice
• Lean beef: flank steak, sirloin, tenderloin, rump roast, ~90% lean ground beef
• Lean pork: pork loin, tenderloin, center loin
• Poultry: skinless chicken breast, turkey cutlets, ~90% lean ground
• Seafood: salmon, tuna, cod, trout, shrimp, catfish
• Dairy: skim milk, low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat plain yogurt
2nd Choice 3rd Choice• 85% lean ground
beef, turkey, chicken• Dark meat chicken• Beef prime ribs, beef
short ribs• Ground lamb• Pheasant with skin• Roasted chicken with
skin• 1% or 2% milk or
cottage cheese• Whole egg
• Bacon• Bologna• Chicken fried steak• Hot dogs• Salami• Summer sausage• Breakfast sausage• Buffalo wings• Beef ribs, pork ribs,
70% lean ground pork or beef
• Ice cream, whip cream, whole milk
Protein: Plant Sources
• Almonds• Black beans• Black eyed peas• Brown rice• Chick peas• Couscous• Garbonzo beans• Hummus• Lentils
• Lima beans• Peanut butter• Pecans• Pinto beans• Quinoa• Pistachios• Soy burger• Soy beans• Spinach
Macronutrient: Fat• The most energy-dense macronutrient (based
on kcal/g)• Functions include:– Insulation– Cell structure– Nerve transmission– Vitamin absorption– Hormone production
Fats: Food Choice ChecklistMonounsaturated
Fats• Almonds (oil)• Avocados• Brazil nuts• Canola oil• Cashews• Ground flaxseed• Hazelnuts• Macadamias• Olive oil• Peanut butter• Peanut oil• Pecans• Pistachios• Pumpkin seeds
Polyunsaturated Fats
Saturated Fats
• Omega-3: Alaska king crab, Atlantic herring, ground flaxseeds, pecans, pine nuts, Pollock, scallop, shrimp, whitefish, wild salmon
• Omega-6: corn oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, sunflower seeds
• Alfredo sauce• Bacon, bologna,
bratwurst• Butter• Cake• Cheese sauces• Chocolate• Coconut oil• Cookies • Cream cheese• Creamy sauces• Fried chicken• Ice cream• Mayonnaise• Etc.
LEAST PROCESSED
SLIGHTLY PROCESSED
MOST
How to make healthy food choices
Why are these food choices important?
• Lets think through it:– Food is fuel and hunger is your body’s request for fuel
• Carbohydrates: – Major source of energy for the body– Includes sugars, starches, and dietary fibers
• Proteins:– Help build and maintain body structures and regulate body processes
• Fats:– Provide structure for the body– Carry fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)– Provide the starting material for making many hormones– Can be used as fuel if enough oxygen is present
With Exercise…
• …our bodies utilize different energy sources depending on:
– Exercise intensity– Exercise duration
Energy Systems OverviewEnergy System
UsedHow Long Used For Example of Exercise Food Source Ratio
Used
Adenosine Triphosphate &
Creatine Phosphate (ATP/PC) System
~2-5 minutes of activity
100-200 yd distances – backstroke,
breaststroke, butterfly and
freestyle
55% carbohydrate25% protein
20% fat
Glycolytic System ~20 minutes of activity
800-1800 yds – freestyle
55% carbohydrate30% protein
15% fat
Oxidative Energy System
~45 minutes of activity
Long distance events (triathlons),
synchronized swimming, and
water polo
60% carbohydrate20% protein
20% fat
Hydration• Our bodies are made up of 80% water• Water is essential for:– Nutrient absorption– Body temperature regulation– Protection of vital organs– Serves as a medium for biochemical reactions– Maintains a high blood volume for optimal athletic
performance• If fluid intake does not meet the demands of
fluid losses, dehydration can occur
Effects of Dehydration• Percent Body Weight Lost
• 0-1% Thirst• 2% Stronger thirst, vague discomfort, loss of
appetite• 3% Decreasing blood volume, impaired
physical performance• 4% Increased effort for physical work, nausea• 5% Difficulty in concentrating• 6% Failure to regulate excess temperature• 7-8% Dizziness, labored breathing w/ activity,
increased weakness• 9-10% Muscle spasms, delirium, and
wakefulness• 11% Inability of decreased blood volume to circulate
normally, failing renal function
Hydration Tips• Try to develop some type of water “schedule”• Although you may not notice that you are sweating in
the pool, 30 mins in humidity can lead to dehydration• Drink:– 2 cups of water 2 hours before practice– 5-10 oz. of water every 15-20 minutes during practice
• 1 medium mouthful = ~ 1 oz.– 2-3 cups of fluid for every pound of body weight lost
• Sports Drinks– Best used for practices lasting > 1 hr.
Putting it all together…
• Pre-workout• During workout• Post-workout• Hydration
Food Timing
• Important for adequate energy during workouts!– Aim to consume either a meal or snack every 3-4 hrs.– 2-4 hrs before practice: meal(s)– 30 mins before practice: small CHO snack
• Develop food familiarity– Don’t try new foods on or close to a competition day
if you are unsure of how your body will react.• Try to pre-plan your day to make sure you
properly fuel your body.
Pre-Workout• Immediately before a
workout (30 min– 1 hr)– CHO rich snack or meal
• Liquid meal replacements an option
– Small amount of PRO• Will decrease post-
exercise muscle soreness– Low fiber & fat content
• Decrease transit time• Decrease gastric upset
• Pre-Workout Snack Ideas:– Piece of fruit (i.e. banana)– Cottage cheese + with
crackers– Granola bar– Low-fat yogurt and banana or
raisins– Graham crackers + peanut
butter + low-fat chocolate milk
– Cinnamon raisin mini-bagel spread with 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
During Workout• Combination of CHO, PRO, &
Electrolytes– Easily chewable, bite-sized
foods• Ex: pieces of granola bar/sports
bar, sports gels, pieces of fruit
• Fluid Replacement– Water & Sports drinks
• Work on Timing– Takes time to learn what works
best for you– Experiment during practices
that are less rigorous and not immediately before a meet
• Raw nuts/seeds (ex: 15 almonds, 20 peanuts, 30 pistachios)
• Lean beef jerky• Dried fruit• Peanut butter sandwich• Energy bar or granola bar
(watch sugar content)• Dried apricots + ¼ c. nuts (e.g.
peanuts, almonds, etc)• Apple slices + cheddar cheese• Whole wheat pita + hummus
Post-Workout• Begin recovery with a snack or
meal within 15-60 min• Replace muscle fuel (CHO)
– Snack Ideas:• Sports drink and/or
protein/sports bar• Graham crackers with
peanut butter• Chocolate milk & banana• Fruit & yogurt smoothie
• Replenish water and electrolyte losses
• Meal Ideas:– Rice bowl with beans,
cheese, salsa, avocado + whole grain tortilla chips or whole wheat tortilla
– Stir fry with lean steak, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots + brown rice
– Whole wheat pita sandwich with turkey and veggies + pretzels + low-fat milk
– Salmon with roasted vegetables and brown rice
Hydration• Before practice:– 2 cups of water 2 hours
• During practice:– 5-10 oz. of water every 15-20 minutes
• 1 medium mouthful = ~ 1 oz.
• After practice:– 2-3 cups of fluid for every pound of body weight lost
• Sports Drinks– Best used for practices lasting > 1 hr. OR when food
source not available during/following exercise
References• http://wwww.usaswimming.org• www.eatright.org (American Dietetic Association)• Clark, N. (2008). Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook (4th ed.).
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.• Dunford, M.D. (Ed.). (2006). Sports Nutrition: A Practice Manual for
Professionals (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.• Insel, P. (2006). Discovering Nutrition (2nd ed.). Jones and Barlett
Publishers, Inc.• Litt, A. (2004). Fuel for Young Athletes. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.• www.scandpg.org [Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition
(SCAN)]• Rosenloom, C.A. (Ed.). (2006). Sports Nutrition: Client Education
Handouts. American Dietetics Association.