Final answer:
To rapidly gain energy, your friend should consume carbohydrates, as they are the primary source of the body's energy and are quickly metabolized into glucose, which cells use for ATP production. Foods rich in carbohydrates include pasta and rice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nutrients for Quick Energy
If your friend needs quick energy, the kind of biomolecule he should eat a lot of is carbohydrates. This group of nutrients is the primary source of the body's energy. When your body digests food, it breaks down molecules of nutrients such as carbohydrates. This digestion process releases energy so the body can use it for activities like running. In particular, carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars such as glucose, which the cells can then use for energy. This energy is in the form of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, which cells use for various functions, including muscle contraction during physical activity.
Why Carbohydrates?
Glucose from carbohydrates is especially useful because it can be quickly metabolized during cellular respiration to produce ATP. Hence, eating carbohydrates before running can help supply your friend's muscle cells with a ready-to-use energy source.
Food Sources Rich in Carbohydrates
Two kinds of foods that have high amounts of carbohydrates are pasta and rice. These foods contain starch, a complex carbohydrate, which the body breaks down into glucose to fuel cellular activities.