Nutrition for Fitness, Health and Exercise

Authors Avatar

Unit Title:                                Nutrition for Fitness, Health and Exercise

Unit Number:                        DT4W34

Assessment Number:                3

Outcome Number:                3

Assessment Type:                Assignment (Approx 1000-1500 words)

Discuss the contribution of nutrition to fitness, health and exercise

Stipulated Date:___________________________________________

Hand in Date:____________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition is a key aspect of a sports performer’s health and well being. This reports aim is to discuss the contribution of nutrition to fitness, health and exercise. “The athlete who wants to optimize exercise performance needs to follow good nutrition and hydration” (ACS,ADA and DC 2000)

How Food Energy Is Used And Stored?

Used

The energy from the nutrient has to be harvested through the energy rich compound ATP which is Adenosine Triphosphate. This is referred to as the “energy currency”.  The body has to form molecules of ATP from the nutrients so that the ATP can then be broken down and used for energy. By breaking down ATP it allows for the energy needed for muscular contraction to be released. There are 3 ways this could be achieved:

  • Creatine Phosphate System
  • Anaerobic System
  • Aerobic System

Creatine Phosphate

If you work for 10 seconds at a high intensity work it breaks down the Creatine Phosphate to get the energy

Anaerobic System

The anaerobic system uses no oxygen, you work 2 to 3 minutes of work. The lactic acid builds up, then the glycogen is broken down for energy.

Join now!

Aerobic System

The aerobic system works with oxygen, hours of work at lower intensity. This system breaks down glycogen or fat.

Storage

Only 80 to 100 grams of the ATP is actually stored. This is enough for a few seconds of work. The reason for this is because it is too heavy to store lots. Carbohydrate and Fat storage will determine how the ATP is going to be rebuilt using Anaerobic and Aerobic energy systems.

Carbohydrate

The carbohydrate is stored as Glycogen. The total amount of in well nourished people is between 375 and 475 ...

This is a preview of the whole essay