nutrition

TEST 2: PAGE 90

by J a c q u e l i n e

B e r n i n g , P h D , RD, CSSD

Fueling Athletes for Training and Competition

Nutrition recommendations for before, during and after workouts or competitive events.
Some of the questions most frequently asked of sports dietitians deal with food and fluid consumption before, during and after exercise. Indeed, athletes, are bombarded with nutrition misinformation, resulting in confusion about what they should eat or drink during training or, more crucially, during competition. This article provides science-based guidelines on food and beverage choices that are easy to understand and adopt and that allow athletes to maximize their potential. Recently, the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada and the American College of Sports Medicine published a joint position statement regarding nutrition and athletic performance (Rodriguez et al. 2009). Among other topics, the position statement used evidence-based science to make recommendations for athletes on foo-d and fluid consumption before, during and afier activity. Using this document as a foundation, the guidelines described here have been developed to provide practical recommendations that sports dietitians can use to help athletes make food and fluid choices before, during and after workouts or competition.

Preworkout Nutrition
1. Athletes should eat before physical activity as opposed to working out in a fasted state (Rodriguez et al. 2009). Consuming foods high in carbohydrates (CHO) before exercise increases muscle glycogen stores and maintains blood glucose. Studies have shown that consuming a pre-exercise meal low in fiber and fat, moderate in protein and high in CHO can extend the exercise time and provide added energy (lentjens et al. 2003; Moseley, Lancaster & Jeukendrup 2003). 2. At least 4 hours before activity, athletes should drink about 5-7 milliliters [ml| per kilogram of body weight (2-3 ml perpoundof body weight) of water or sports drink (Rodriguez et aL 2009). Consuming fluids at least 4 hours prior to a workout allows enough time to optimize hydration status and allow for excretion of excess fluid (Rodriguez et al. 2009). Fluid consumption will vary depending on environmental factors, exercise intensity, body size, training status and gender. A sports drink consumed before exercise should contain 6%-8% CHO (60-80 grams CHO per liter) and 110-165 milligrams of sodium per 8January 2011 IDEA Fitness Journal

ounce (oz) serving (Chryssanthopoulos & Williams 1997; Chryssanthopoulos et al. 2002). 3. The volume of the preworkout meal or snack, the timing of ingestion and the start of the workout are all interrelated (Rodriguez et al. 2009). Athletes should consume smaller meals closer to the start of a competition, while larger meals should be consumed further out from the workout. Studies on CHO in which athletes consume 200-300 g of CHO 3-4 hours before competition have shown that this helps performance (Rodriguez et al. 2009; Bloch & Wheeler 1999). Athletes may benefit from consuming liquid CHO, such as pre-exercise beverages or gels (25 g CHO/4 oz) or sports drink (containing 6%-8% CHO solution) an hour or less before the start of activity (Anantaraman et al. 1995). Consuming a concentrated source of CHO around 15 minutes before a workout works well when athletes do this in conjunction with CHO intake during that workout. 4. Athletes' individual needs and preferences should be identified and met (Rodriguez et al. 2009).
71

Athletes should always experiment with the type, amount and timing of a preworkout meal before a training session; they should not start a new strategy at the time of a competition. This will allow athletes to find meals that work for their events and not interfere with performance.

Nutrition During a Workout

1. Research supports the benefit that CHO consumption in amounts typically provided in sports drinks (6%-8% CHO) has on endurance performance in events lasting 1 hour or less (Rodriguez et al. 2009; Sugiura & Kobayashi 1998; Jeukendrup et al. 1997; Nicholas et al. 1995). 2. For longer events, consuming 30-60 g CHO/bour has been shown to extend endurance performance (Rodriguez et aL2009). This is especially important for athletes who have not consumed a preworkout meal or have restricted calories or CHO during exercise, for maintenance of blood glucose. 3. Consumption of6-12oz of sports drink with 6%-8% CHO every 15-30 minutes during a workout can extend the workout capacity of athletes who participate in intermittent activity (Jeukendrup et al. 1997; Anantaraman et al. 1995; Below et aL 1995; Carter et aL 2003; elSayed, Balmer & Rattu 1997).

It is important to replace fluids and electrolytes that are lost during activity.

Nutrition for Postworkout and Recovery

1. It is important to replace fiuids and electrolytes that are lost during activity. Consuming rehydradon beverages and salty foods during meals/snacks will help replace fluids and electrolyte losses (Rodriguez et al. 2009). Athletes should drink 16-24 oz of fluid for every pound of body weight lost (and not replaced) during activity (Rodriguez et al. 2009). It should be recognized that complete rehydration requires sufficient sodium and potassium replacement and extra fluid intake exceeding that which is lost in sweat and urine during activity. 2. Timing and composition of the postexercise meal depends on the intensity and duration of the exercise session and wben the next workout will occur (Rodriguez et al. 2009). Not all athletes need to practice recovery nutrition. For example, a cross-country runner who trains in easy runs before a ta74

pering week does not empty glycogen stores and has enough time for complete recovery before competition. For those doing intense training multiple times a day, an appropriate diet strategy between workouts will be very relevant and important. 3. Timing of postworkout CHO intake affects glycogen synthesis. Consumption of 1.0-1.5 g of CHO/kg within 30 minutes after exercise and at 2-hour intervals (up to 6 hours) results in higher glycogen levels than when ingestion is delayed for 2 hours (Rodriguez et al. 2009). When the recovery period is limited to only a few hours, rehydration and refueling can be achieved by ingesting a CHO-electrolyte solution in volumes of at least 150% of the workout-induced loss in body weight and by consuming CHOrich foods (Moore et al. 2009).
January 2011 IDEA Fitnass Journal

4. Protein plays a role in recovery nutrition. The joint position statement addressed the fact that adding protein to a recovery regimen does not increase muscle glycogen to a greater extent than CHO alone when CHO is consumed in recommended amounts (Rodriguez et al. 2009). However, adding protein to the recovery snack vll provide amino acids for building, maintenance and repair of muscle. While CHO is the primary source of energy for muscles, consuming a small amount of protein shortly after activity assists in the repair and synthesis of muscle protein in the body. Athletes should meet their protein requirements by consuming protein throughout the day rather than ingesting it all in one meal or snack. Research by Howarth et

al. (2009) suggests that aboat 20 g of protein is the maximum amount needed to stimulate synthesis and repair of muscle. In addition, research shows that ingestion of 7-10 g of protein along with CHO within 30 minutes of physical activity is enough to start muscle protein synthesis. Repeated feedings up to 6 hours postworkout may help provide a pulsing effect for muscle rebuilding over time (Moore et al. 2009).

Jacqueline Beming, PhD, RD, CSSD is a professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and sports dietitian for Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Indians. She also is a nutrition consultant to The Gatorade Sports Science Institute. References
Anantaraman, R., et al. 1995. Effects of carbohydralc supplementation on performance during 1 hour of high intensity exercise, lnternalional journal ofSporls Medicine, /6 (7), 461-65. Below, R, et al. 1995. Fluid and carixihydrate ingestion independently improve performance during 1 h of intense exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, 27(2), 200-210. Bloch, T.D., & Wheeler, K.B. 1999. Dietary examples: A practical apprt>ach to feeding athletes. Clinics in Sports Medicine, ;8(3), 703-711. Carter, J., et al. 2003. Carbohydrate .supplementation improves moderate and high-intensity exercise in the heat. Pgers Archiv, 446 (2), 211-19. Chryssanthopoulos, C, & Williams, C. 1997. Pre-exercise carimhydrate meal and endurance running capacity when carbohydrates are ingested during exercise. International oumd of Sports Medicine, 18 (7), 543^)8. Chryssanthopoulos, C , et al. 2002. The effect of a high carbohydrate meal on endurance running capacity. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2(2), 157-71. el Sayed, M.S., Balmer, (., & Rattu, A.).M. 1997. Carbohydrate ingestion improves endurance performance during a 1 h simulated cycling time trial.

Optimal Nutrition Toward Optimal Performance

Adopting nutrition strategies presented within the joint position statement can improve physical activity tolerance and help athletes recover rapidly from training and competition. An important premise of these general recommendations is that the optimal mixture of nutrients to speed recovery from hard training and competition can be obtained by eating wholesome foods and beverages, provided correct choices are made regarding food type, amount and timing.

loumal of Sports Sciences, (5(2), 223-30. Howarth, K.R., et al. 2009. Coingestion of protein with carbohydrate during recovery frt)m endurance exercise stimulates .skeletal muscle protein synthesis in humans. loumal of Applied Physiology, /06 (4), 1394-1402. Jentjens, R.I.., et al. 2003. Effects of pre-exercise ingestion of differing amounts of carbohydrate on subsequent metabolism and cycling performance. European journal of Applied Physiology, 88 (4-5), 444-52. leukendrup, A.E., et al. 1997 Carbohydrate-electrolyte feedings improve I h time-trial cycling performance. International journal of SporU Medicine, I8{2), 125-29. M(K)re, D.R., et al. 2009. Ingested protein dose response of muscle and albumin protein synthesis after resistance exercise in young men. American journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89(1), 161-68. Moseley, L, I.ancaster, G.I., & leukendrup, A.R 200.3. Effects of timing of pre-exercise ingestion of carbohydrate on subsequent metabolism and cycling performance. European journal ofApplied Physiology, 88 (4-5), 453-58. Nicholas, C.W., et al. 1995. influence of ingesting a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution on endurance capacity during intermittent, high intensity shuttle running. journal of Sports Sciences, 13 (4), 83-90. Rodriguez, N.R., et al. 2009. Position of the American Dietetic A.s.sociation, Dietitians of Canada, and the American Q>llege of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and athletic performance, journal of the American Dietetic Association, 109(3), 509-527. Sbirreffs, S.M., et al. 1996. Postexercise rehydration in man: Effects of volume consumed and sodium content of ingested fluids. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 28(10), 1260-71. Sugiura, K., & Kobayashi, K. 1998. Efiect of carbohydrate ingestion on sprint performance following continuous and intermittent exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 30 ( 11 ), 1624-30.

Are you ready for your clients] ear's resolutions?

on the education you need in the IDEA Store.
Use coupon code NEWYEAR11 to receive 15% off ALL products in the IDEA Store.

IDEA
HEALTH & FITNESS ASSOCWTION

Start shopping now! www.ideafit.com/fitness-products

'For a limited time only.

January 2011 IDEA Fitness Journal

7B