The 10 Biggest Sports Nutrition Myths
- By Matt Fitzgerald
- Published Jan. 29, 2013
- Updated Jan. 29, 2013 at 12:05 PM UTC
8. Most runners eat enough carbohydrate.
The long shadow of the low-carb diet craze of the early 2000’s has left many of us believing that the average American, and the average runner especially, eats a high-carbohydrate diet. In fact, the average runner gets only 50 percent of his or her calories from carbs, just as the average American non-runner does. And while a 50 percent carbohydrate diet may be too much for a sedentary person who burns few carbs through activity, it’s not enough for most runners, who do.
As we said in discussing myth #2, there’s no one-size-fits-all carbohydrate percentage that is right for every runner. You have to think in terms of absolute amounts, and adjust your target amount based on your body weight and activity level. Runners need at least 2 grams of carbs per body weight daily. Elite runners may need as much as 5 grams per pound during periods of peak training.
FILED UNDER: Nutrition TAGS: carbohydrate intake / Dehydration / Hydration / Nutritional Supplements / performance nutrition / Sports Drinks