Nutrition & Exercise Column
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Fitness gains do not occur during exercise. Exercise is a stress that creates the stimulus
for adaptations. These adaptations require proper rest and optimal nutrition. Muscular strength and endurance are achieved when adequate
nutrients are available for muscle glycogen synthesis and muscle protein synthesis during recovery. Optimal nutrition enhances performance
and recovery while combating the muscle mass loss, bone density loss, fatigue, injury, and decreased immune function that are associated with
inadequate caloric intake. Post-exercise nutrition should focus on adequate hydration, carbohydrates for glycogen synthesis, and protein for
muscle protein synthesis. To maximize the multitude of effects conferred by endurance and resistance exercise, nutrient amount, composition,
and timing must be taken into consideration(1).
Glycogen is... (more)
Choosing Between Aerobic and Resistance Exercise for Type 2 Diabetes
Over the past several decades, type 2 diabetes has become a chronic disease of epidemic proportion. In fact, the American Diabetes Association reports that 19 million people have been diagnosed as diabetic, with over four times as many people estimated to be pre-diabetic (having a fasting plasma glucose between 100 and 125mg/dL). The impact of the elevated blood glucose level and the disease—which includes a host of complications not limited to stroke, blindness, and kidney disease—has prompted researchers to conduct studies centered around how to most effectively curb the development of type 2 diabetes. Exercise is a method consistently shown to be successful in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. Indeed, one topic of critical interest and importance to... (more)