Sports and Fitness Sports and Fitness Nutrition & Performance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What macronutrient is the primary fuel source for high-intensity anaerobic exercise?
- Carbohydrates (Correct answer)
- Fats
- Proteins
- Fiber
Correct answer: Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen and serve as the primary fuel for high-intensity anaerobic efforts like sprinting and weightlifting.
Question 2: According to U.S. dietary guidelines for athletes, how much protein per kilogram of body weight is generally recommended for strength athletes daily?
- 0.8 g/kg
- 1.2–1.7 g/kg (Correct answer)
- 2.5–3.0 g/kg
- 0.4–0.6 g/kg
Correct answer: 1.2–1.7 g/kg
Strength athletes typically need 1.2–1.7 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily to support muscle repair and growth.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the 'glycemic index' in sports nutrition planning?
- Measure total caloric content of foods
- Rank how quickly carbohydrates raise blood glucose (Correct answer)
- Determine fat-to-protein ratios
- Calculate hydration needs
Correct answer: Rank how quickly carbohydrates raise blood glucose
The glycemic index ranks carbohydrate-containing foods by how rapidly they raise blood glucose levels, which helps athletes time carbohydrate intake around training.
Question 4: Which electrolyte is most critical to replace during prolonged endurance exercise lasting over 2 hours in hot conditions?
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Sodium (Correct answer)
- Calcium
Correct answer: Sodium
Sodium is the primary electrolyte lost in sweat and is most critical to replace during prolonged exercise to prevent hyponatremia and maintain fluid balance.
Question 5: What does the concept of 'carbohydrate periodization' involve in athletic training?
- Eliminating carbohydrates from the diet permanently
- Cycling carbohydrate intake to match training load (Correct answer)
- Eating only complex carbohydrates
- Timing carbohydrate intake exclusively before bed
Correct answer: Cycling carbohydrate intake to match training load
Carbohydrate periodization involves strategically adjusting carbohydrate intake to match the demands of different training sessions and phases.
Question 6: Which vitamin is synthesized in the skin through sun exposure and plays a key role in calcium absorption for bone health in athletes?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D is produced in the skin upon sun exposure and is essential for calcium absorption, making it critical for bone health and injury prevention in athletes.
What macronutrient is the primary fuel source for high-intensity anaerobic exercise?