Energy – the fuel for the body
In order to build biomolecules and sustain life, your body needs energy. The body gets its energy from the breakdown of nutrients like glucose, amino acids and fatty acids. These are also known as carbohydrates, fats and proteins (or macronutrients).
Carbohydrates are seen as the fuel for the body.
Our bodies can only absorb monosaccharides (glucose, galactose, or fructose), the single units of sugars and starches. Once absorbed through the small intestines into the portal vein, and then circulated into the bloodstream through the liver as blood glucose, our bodies can put glucose to work in three ways:
- It can burn the glucose immediately for energy if blood glucose levels are not at a stable level of 20 grams blood borne glucose circulating per hour.
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- If it is not needed for energy immediately, then it is converted into glycogen in the liver or muscles. The liver has the capacity to store 100 grams of glycogen. The muscles have the capacity to store between 250-400 grams of glycogen, depending on muscle mass and physical condition. Liver glycogen supplies energy for the entire body. Muscle glycogen only supplies energy to muscles.
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- If the body has an excess of glucose, and all of the glycogen stores are full, the surplus glucose is converted to fat by the liver and stored as adipose tissue (body fat) around the body. If needed, fatty acids can be burned as fuel (BUT the fat cannot be converted back to glucose).
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Macronutrients
Just keep in mind that it takes all three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fat) in the proper amounts to keep energy levels at there best. Always be sure to take in some carbohydrates and protein an hour before exercise and some more thirty minutes after, taking in your fats well before and well after exercise.
Vitamins
Apart from these macronutrients the body also needs micronutrients. They are also known as vitamins or minerals. With the reduced amounts of these vitamins in our foods, because of over processing, we have more need than ever to supplement our foods with vitamins.
Nutrition for energy
There are many vitamins and herbs that may help with increasing energy. A small selection can be found below.
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