THE KETOGENIC DIET IN TRAIL RUNNING
Is the ketogenic diet a useful strategy to follow in competition or training?
We asked our endurance nutrition professional Dr. Felicina Biorci who offers us a scientific analysis of its usefulness explaining why it is not recommended in endurance competitions and in prolonged training sessions with high effort.
The Ketogenic Diet is a diet that limits carbohydrates to a maximum of ~ 50 g of total daily energy, while keeping proteins moderate (1.2-1.5 g / kg of body weight), with the remaining portion of energy deriving from fat. So FAT 60-80%, PROTEIN 20-30%, CARBOHYDRATES 5-10%.
The body is thus forced to use its own stores of fat as fuel.
The advantages therefore appear to be:
- in terms of body composition, fat loss
- in terms of performance, the saving of muscle glycogen
Do we turn them on? Only halfway.
The loss of fat is confirmed, but with evidence similar to that of diets that have the same amount of protein and few carbohydrates, without having to reach levels of carbohydrates almost non-existent as the ketogenic diet imposes.
So similar results, with less suffering.
In terms of performance, the use of fats as fuel induces an increase in oxidative processes, with an improvement in mitochondrial function. + the mitochondria are functioning, + the athlete is efficient. So the advantage is important. BUT the metabolic demands of sports performance often include high intensity efforts equal to or greater than the anaerobic threshold, for the maintenance of which carbohydrates are required; without carbo there is a risk of limiting the functionality of fast fibers.
In summary, the ketogenic diet can be useful for stimulating weight loss and mitochondrial function in low intensity training sessions for long periods of time.
So ok for a controlled training scheme. Not to be applaied in a nutrition competition scheme.
Have a look at our Racing Nutrition Plans: HERE
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