Final answer:
Consuming high-quality protein before exercise helps prevent muscle breakdown, as proteins are crucial for muscle maintenance and energy generation. Athletes often consume high amounts of carbohydrates for energy. For weight loss, a diet rich in vegetables, lean meats, and fiber is beneficial.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consuming high quality protein before exercising will help limit how much muscle your body breaks down while exercising. Proteins are essential for muscle maintenance, growth, and repair. During exercise, metabolic reactions that generate ATP (the energy units in our cells) heavily rely on proteins, such as enzymes and transport proteins.
It is recommended that athletes consume 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg/day of proteins to support these functions. High carbohydrate intake is also beneficial for athletes, particularly those involved in endurance sports, as carbohydrates are broken down into glucose which provides energy through metabolic pathways.
However, when it comes to weight loss, high intake of vegetables, lean meats, and foods high in fiber can be advantageous.