Final answer:
Athletes are advised to eat a big pasta dinner the night before a competition because pasta provides sustained energy. Simple sugars, such as those in candy bars, are recommended a few hours before to provide quick energy. Eating pasta right before the competition may cause digestive issues and delay energy availability, while eating a candy bar the night before may lead to an energy crash.
Step-by-step explanation:
Athletes are often advised to eat a big pasta dinner the night before a competition because pasta is rich in complex carbohydrates, which provide sustained energy for physical activity. Simple sugars, such as those found in candy bars, are quickly digested and absorbed by the body, providing a quick source of energy for immediate use. By consuming pasta the night before, athletes are able to load their glycogen stores, while eating simple sugars a few hours before the competition helps to top up the immediate energy supply.
If athletes were to eat pasta right before the competition, it would take longer for the body to digest and absorb the carbohydrates, potentially causing digestive discomfort and delaying the availability of energy. Similarly, eating a candy bar the night before would provide a quick source of energy that is not needed overnight, potentially leading to a crash in energy levels during the competition.