Some people believe that an athlete's potential is all in their genes. That is only true to some extent. For example, height will help a basketball player. While these types of genetic advantages certainly help the athlete in their given sport, nutrition can also play a larger role in performance. You may have heard of people "carb loading" before some sporting event. This might help to some degree, however, using pasta as a source of energy is not the best choice. Some Paleo alternatives for energy could come from fruit, vegetables, squash, and sweet potatoes. Using pasta for carb loading can be detrimental to your hormones and cause some silent inflammation in your body.
Blood sugar level balance should be important not only to athletes, but to everyone. Your body always needs fuel, and it must have an energy source for that fuel to power itself. The most efficient source of energy for your body is to metabolize carbohydrates, and they are stored primarily in your muscles and liver in the form of glycogen. Understanding glycogen will give you a better idea as to how important it is to regulate it.
When food is consumed, carbohydrates are absorbed through the walls of the intestine where it enters the bloodstream. When the levels of carbohydrates (sugar) increase, it triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that helps synthesize the glycogen in the liver. When insulin reaches the liver and there is there is sugar present, it makes the sugar molecules stick together. The sugar molecules combined is called glycogen. It is formed for the body to use later. When the sugar levels in the body decrease, insulin production decreases as well, which stops synthesizing the glycogen chains. When the body is in need of glycogen to do work, the pancreas secretes another hormone, glucagon. The glucagon initiates the breaking down of glycogen into sugar molecules for the body to now use. Insulin and glucagon control the storage and release of carbohydrates in the body. Without them you would not have the ability to store or use energy when needed.
It is important for athletes to understand how much fuel they will need to perform in any given event. The body will only use what it needs and will store the rest for use at a later time. This storage is when weight gain happens. The more energy you exert, the more energy is needed. Excess hormones from excess energy needs can cause imbalances in hormones. This can lead to "sugar highs", mood swings, crashes, and feelings of light-headedness.
Our Paleolithic ancestors were exercising to find their food. While we don't have to do that today, the Paleo diet is beneficial for athletes. It helps balance hormone levels by eating foods low in the glycemic value. Fresh fruits and vegetables will help fuel your body with carbohydrates without overloading the body with excess sugars from high-glycemic choices like starches, grains, and beans.
An exception to this may be if you are going to be participating in some strenuous activity. In this case, a higher-glycemic index carbohydrate may be better for you.
For more information on the Paleo diet, visit Gluten Free Paleo Diet
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