What Is The Best Source Of Energy During Exercise

Nutrients provide the energy sources for all forms of exercise.

What is the best source of energy during exercise.

During physical exercise stored carbohydrate or glycogen is converted into energy to fuel the muscles but this supply is not endless. The extent to which these substrates contribute energy for exercise depends on the intensity and duration of exercise the level of exercise training the initial muscle. During exercise there are four major endogenous sources of energy. Muscle carbohydrate stores glycogen blood sugar blood fatty acids and intramuscular triacylglycerols.

Fat is the most energy dense nutrient utilized during exercise with one gram providing 9 kcal of energy. High intensity exercise of a short duration requires anaerobic sources of atp. Phosphocreatine as with all out 100 meter sprints exercise under 30 seconds. And anaerobic glycolysis the breakdown of glucose which is the primary energy source for high intensity exercise of one to three minutes say an 800 meter race.

As exercise intensity increases the number of calories burned also increases. The amount of carbohydrate that can be stored in the body as glycogen depends on diet and the athlete s conditioning level. An alternative energy source to protein being used for energy. The process by which fatty acids and other sources are converted to energy during low intensity exercise.

Therefore while it is true that fat contributes a greater percentage of the total energy during lower intensity exercise at higher intensity exercise the total quantity of fat utilized may be greater for exercise performed for an equivalent period of time. Fat is your body s preferred source of energy for low intensity exercise.