title: Sports Nutrition for the Primary Care Physician: The Importance of Carbohydrate.
abstract: In brief: Proper nutrition is basic to an athlete's performance. It is inextricably tied to maximum training, endurance, delay of fatigue, and recovery. Working muscles need carbohydrate fuel; the optimal diet for an athlete is a regimen of adequate calories, high carbohydrate, and low fat. Many athletes, however, do not appreciate the number of calories needed to support their athletic activity and do not meet their energy needs. Timing of nutrition is also crucial to optimal performance. Athletes need to consume a balanced diet and adequate carbohydrate calories during training, before and during competition, and immediately afterward.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hecker