Blood Glucose Response to Consumption of Beverages Containing Carbohydrates Following a 30 Minute Bout of Moderate Intensity Exercise
Michael Griffith
Comprehension: Carbohydrates (CHO) can be found in anything from breads and pastas to fruits, candy bars and even various beverages. These molecules are of utmost importance for the human body due to the fact that they are its main source of energy during rest, as well as exercise. A lack of CHO decreases physical performance and can inhibit post-exercise recovery (4). Proper CHO levels help prevent gluconeogenesis, improve recovery and have been suggested to improve performance and decision making in sports like soccer, tennis, and basketball (2). To take a closer look at variations in blood glucose concentration (BGC), an experiment was conducted by students in PE 461. This experiment was used to see how two different CHO-rich beverages [12 oz. Gatorade (Ga) and 8 oz. chocolate milk (CM)] effected BGC, and compared them to one another to see if there was a significant
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Exercise increases HR and increases the use of energy compared to at rest. This source of energy comes from muscle glycogen as well as other stored sources from the human body such as blood glucose and fat. In order to replace these energy sources without the body catabolizing itself, recovery beverages such as Gatorade or chocolate milk are very effective. These drinks increase the BGC due to the breakdown of CHO, which is then used to replenish the body’s energy stores for the normal functioning as well as for the next bout of physical activity. With CHO being the main source of energy for the human body, it is important for people to remain diligent and properly fuel themselves with healthy, carbohydrate-containing