About Carbohydrates in the Form of Sugar
(BPT) - An athlete's overall nutrition needs vary
help them perform at their best. A variety of
depending on several factors, including the type well-respected organizations, including the
of sport and duration of time in motion. Specifi-
National Athletic Trainers' Association, the
cally during activity, an athlete needs fuel to
American College of Sports Medicine and
perform, and carbohydrates, including sugars,
the International
have been found to be functional for athletes
Olympic Committee Guidelines recommend
who are engaged in activity for at least an hour
who have a performance goal. "The increased
activity level of an athlete in the moment of
team sport athletes consume 30 to 60 grams
of rapidly digested and absorbed carbohydrates per hour when training or competing
training or competition calls for additional fuel,
in essence, a readily available source of energy," says Scott Sehnert, Auburn University
for greater than 60 minutes. Research verifies these recommendations and emphasizes the need for easily digestible sugar - such
sport dietitian and education chair of the Colle-
as glucose and sucrose.
giate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association. "As registered dietitians, it's our job to
"In addition to consuming the right type and
ensure athletes understand the importance of
amount of fuel, sucrose or glucose, athletes
fueling their bodies to help them perform at their need to consider how much their bodies can
handle," adds Sehnert. "The science
best, and science supports appropriate consumption of carbohydrates, including those in
supports solutions containing no more than
the form of sugar, to help improve intermittent
14 grams of rapidly absorbed carbohydrates
exercise capacity for athletes training or com-
per 8 ounces of fluid to help athletes meet
peting for more than 60 minutes."
fuel recommendations while promoting fluid
absorption and minimizing gastrointestinal
All sugars are not the same and athletes mostly
need forms that can be quickly converted to
distress. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade
Thirst Quencher, follow these
energy (digested and absorbed) to
recommendations."
37
www.urbanteenmagazine.com