It almost sounds like heresy but athletes need extra calories to super charge your performance and the best source of those extra calories is fat not carbs.
If you’re a sporty type, looking to boost your performance, then eat more FAT.
Pound for pound, fat has twice the energy count of a carb. This makes them twice as fattening, if you’re consuming them as excess calories, but it also means they can take you twice as far, if you’re burning calories.
When you need more fuel, fat can provide the ……….
Extra calories to cross that soccer field
Researchers from the University of Buffalo experimented with the diet’s of nine female soccer players. The ladies performance on the soccer field was tested, when they ate their normal diet plus a few extra calories.
The 415 extra calories, came from either
- oil-roasted peanuts i.e. carbs = 51 %, fats = 35 %
- a carbohydrate-rich energy bar i.e. carbs = 63 %, fats = 24 %
The special diet programme was followed for 7 days during the luteal phase (the second half) of the menstrual cycle.
Fat scores the goal
The researchers couldn’t assess the actual performance on the field accurately , so they used endurance testing in the lab, to mimic soccer play. When the ladies munched on peanuts, they were able to run cross the soccer field for 15 % longer, before succumbing to exhaustion.
In the lab, the ladies managed to run on the treadmill an extra 1.2 to 1.5 kilometers, averaging 11.2 km on the higher fat diet. The carbohydrate-rich energy bar caused them to perform a little worse than they would have on their normal diet. Ouch ! Something that also happens to mice. They averaged 10 km on their normal diet and 9.7 km on the carbohydrate-rich energy bar.
Women are better fat metabolizers
This marked improvement in performance was a lady thing.
Men loading up with peanuts versus a carbohydrate-bar only perform marginally better. Although they too performed better on the higher fat diet.
Turns out estrogen does a little bit more than create those female curves, mood swings and brain fogs, it helps women use fat.
Female athletes run on fat
It almost sounds like heresy, the health gurus are continually proclaiming the dangers of fat, but as an athlete you need extra calories to super charge your performance.
Maximize your performance by getting your body chemistry working at its best.
Get the extra calories you need from fat while keeping the level of inflammation down. Don’t forget to do a little sun tanning too, to protect yourself from muscle injuries.
Further reading
Which is a better breakfast, egg or oatmeal ?
The 250 mg of cholesterol in egg WILL send cholesterol levels through the roof – so oatmeal is best. When tested head-2-head, surprisingly eggs trump oat meal.
Want a better time? Better add a little betaine to the water
Create a little winning body chemistry by supplementing with betaine the week before your BIG COMPETITION, a 2.5 g/day dose will boost your performance legally.
Oranges at half time help little athletes breathe easier
If exercise tends to leave you breathless – try creating better body chemistry with an extra helping of vitamin C.
Want to create BETTER BODY CHEMISTRY ?
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