weeks 6-8 Flashcards
(71 cards)
What are the two primary objectives of sports nutrition?
Develop a suitable diet to support the physical stress of training and enable optimal adaptation and recovery.
Develop a competition-specific diet to maximise performance (before, during, after competition).
What is nutritional periodisation, and why is it important?
Nutritional periodisation involves adapting dietary intake in alignment with training phases (e.g., intensity, duration, competition period) to optimise performance, recovery, and physiological adaptations.
What are the key steps in developing a nutrition plan for an athlete?
Planning
Developing (meeting energy needs)
Implementing (monitoring performance)
Controlling food quantity, quality, and timing
What are some consequences of poor nutritional planning in athletes?
Muscle glycogen depletion
Hypoglycaemia
Dehydration
Gastrointestinal discomfort
Hyponatremia
Fatigue and poor performance
What is the difference between catabolic and anabolic reactions in metabolism?
Catabolic: Breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing ATP (e.g., during high-intensity activity)
Anabolic: Builds larger molecules using ATP, supports recovery and growth (e.g., protein synthesis)
Give two examples of anabolic reactions relevant to sports performance.
Protein synthesis for muscle repair
Glycogen synthesis to replenish energy stores
What is ATP and why is it essential in exercise?
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the body’s energy currency, providing energy for all forms of physical activity.
How is ATP resynthesised in the aerobic system?
Through aerobic glycolysis, where glucose or fat is oxidised using oxygen, producing ATP, CO₂, and H₂O.
What are the three energy systems and their primary characteristics?
ATP-PC (phosphagen): Short, explosive efforts (0–10s), anaerobic, uses stored phosphocreatine.
Glycolytic (lactic acid): Moderate-duration high-intensity activity (10s–2min), anaerobic, produces lactate.
Aerobic (oxidative): Long-duration low-moderate intensity (>2min), uses oxygen to oxidise carbs and fats.
Match these activities to the dominant energy system used: Javelin Throw, 800m Run, 5k Run, AFL Match.
Javelin Throw – ATP-PC
800m Run – Glycolytic
5k Run – Aerobic
AFL Match – All three (ATP-PC, Glycolytic, Aerobic)
Define energy, power, and work in the context of exercise.
Energy: Capacity to do work
Power: Rate at which work is done (how quickly energy is used)
Work: Application of force over a distance (physical effort)
How do these concepts relate to exercise intensity and duration?
High-intensity = high power demand
Long-duration = sustained energy/work over time
All three are balanced differently depending on the sport.
How do the energy systems interact during physical activity?
They operate simultaneously but with varying dominance depending on activity intensity and duration. E.g., a rugby player may shift from ATP-PC for sprints to aerobic for jogging.
Why is it important for athletes to train all energy systems?
Because most sports require dynamic transitions between systems. Training all ensures consistent ATP resynthesis and optimal performance.
What causes muscle fatigue in the glycolytic system?
Accumulation of lactate due to insufficient oxygen, which converts pyruvate into lactate.
How is lactic acid removed from the body?
Via transport to the liver where it’s converted back into glucose (gluconeogenesis).
When does the aerobic system become the dominant energy system?
During low-moderate intensity activity lasting more than 2 minutes.
What nutrients support aerobic energy production?
Carbohydrates (glycogen stores)
Fats (sustained energy)
Proteins (recovery and repair)
What are the macronutrient recommendations for athletes?
Carbs: 6–10 g/kg bodyweight
Protein: 1.2–1.7 g/kg bodyweight
Fat: 20–30% of total energy intake
What happens if an athlete’s energy intake doesn’t meet expenditure?
Can result in energy imbalance leading to fatigue, reduced performance, poor recovery, or risk of injury.
What are the key goals of sports nutrition across different types of athletic performance?
Support training adaptations through adequate macronutrient intake.
Maximise performance by fuelling the body with energy-dense, nutrient-rich foods.
Enhance recovery with proper timing of carbohydrate and protein intake.
Prevent under-fuelling, especially in female athletes (e.g., Female Athlete Triad).
Optimise hydration to maintain focus, decision making, and physical capacity.
What is the Female Athlete Triad and why is it important in sports nutrition?
The Female Athlete Triad is a condition marked by:
Low energy availability (with or without disordered eating)
Menstrual dysfunction
Low bone mineral density
These factors can lead to serious health issues such as infertility, low bone strength, and impaired recovery.
What makes nutrition for combination sports complex?
Use of all three energy systems (ATP-PC, glycolytic, aerobic).
Variations in training phases (pre-season vs. late season).
Player roles and positions impact nutritional needs.
How do male and female athletes differ nutritionally?
Hormones, body composition, iron levels all impact nutrition.
Female athletes need more iron due to menstruation.