Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats - Why are They Important?

Athletes are often bombarded with nutritional advice or diets that differ in small ways. But, everyone agrees that the three main components of an athlete's diet should include carbohydrates, proteins, and a moderation of fat. Although we are often told to eat these foods, do we actually know what they do for our body? Here is a quick guide to carbohydrates, proteins, and fats:

Carbohydrates: Basically, carbs are the main source of energy for your body. Your body uses carbs to loosen and contract muscles and synthesize important compounds like ATP and such. Without a lot of carbohydrates in an athlete's diet, one would struggle to complete workouts because of his or her lack of energy. That being said, there are good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates. The bad carbohydrates are those that are refined and stripped of their natural nutrients and fibers. These include white bread and candy. These carbohydrates are labeled "bad" because they aren't natural for the body and they are harder to process or break down. On the other hand, good carbohydrates are those that are high in fiber and nutrients. These include whole wheat bread, fruits and vegetables, and nuts.

Proteins: Proteins are large molecules that are broken down into amino acids, some of which the body use to help heal or repair muscles. Protein is very rarely used as a source of energy, but it is still an essential part of a nutritious athletic diet. Without proteins, the body wouldn't be able to heal itself or function properly because our body needs a high supply of amino acids (i.e. the building blocks of your body). Meat, fish, and nuts are all high in protein and are a major part of a healthy diet.

Fat: Fats are usually pegged as the cause of obesity or heart disease, but what everyone should know is that the human body needs fat in order to survive. Although fat is necessary, we should always try to limit our intake. For athletes, fat is stored energy. In fact, fat is the largest reserve of energy in your body; fat provides the highest amount of energy per gram (1 gram of fat = 9 calories of energy). If you use up all of your carbohydrates, then your body begins to burn fat. Fats are especially important for athletes who do endurance focused activities, like marathons. Like carbohydrates, there are good fats and bad fats; the foods high in trans fat and saturated fat should be avoided entirely or eaten sparingly. Good fats are high in unsaturated fat and foods like avocados and canola oil contain this.