Diet Composition
The composition of carbohydrates in the athlete's diet during carbohydrate loading is as important as their share of the overall caloric intake.
Most dietary carbohydrates consist of varying proportions of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose. Fructose may be metabolized into liver glycogen, but it is ineffective at raising muscle glycogen levels (which is the objective of carbohydrate loading). Consequently, sources of high-fructose carbohydrates, such as fruit and sweets, are less than optimal for the task. The classic carb-loading meal is pasta, whose caloric content is primarily due to starch, a glucose polymer. Other high-glucose meals include bread, rice, and potatoes.
Read more about this topic: Carbohydrate Loading
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