Final answer:
Carbohydrate loading is when athletes reduce exercise intensity and increase carbohydrate intake before a competition to maximize glycogen stores in muscles, thus enhancing endurance performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbohydrate loading is a nutritional strategy used by endurance athletes to increase the amount of glycogen stored in the muscles. The correct choice in your options would be c. It involves tapering the intensity of workouts while increasing carbohydrate intake for several days before a competition. Athletes consume foods rich in carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, and potatoes, which are converted to glucose and used for biochemical energy. Excess glucose can be stored as glycogen in liver and muscle tissue, providing a crucial energy reserve that can be tapped into during long endurance events like marathons, enhancing performance and endurance.
The process of carbohydrate loading maximizes energy stores, allowing the athletes to maintain a higher and more consistent energy output over the duration of the event. To avoid digestive discomfort during the competition, a big pasta dinner is recommended the night before, while simple sugars are consumed a few hours before to maintain blood glucose levels.