Dietary modifications, such as the sleep-low method, may enhance exercise performance. A new paper in the journal Nutrients examines the impact of this technique on exercise performance. Study: Effects of short-term night-time carbohydrate restriction method on exercise performance and fat metabolism.
Image Credit: Izf / Shutterstock.com Nutrition is closely related to athletic performance. Carbohydrate availability, for example, is essential to ensure optimal energy utilization before and during high-intensity and prolonged training.
A limited amount of glycogen can be stored within the body to support high-intensity exercise; therefore, inadequate glycogen reserves impair performance during endurance sports. To build and replenish glycogen stores, athletes should ensure sufficient carbohydrate intake before, during, and after exercise and during muscle recovery to reduce fatigue and maintain sufficient endurance levels. Comparatively, intermittent carbohydrate restriction has been shown to improve muscle adaptation responses to endurance training.
Training with low muscle glycogen stimulates fat oxidation by activating oxidative enzymes; however, how this dietary practice affects exercise performance remains unclear. "The sleep-low method has been proposed as a way to sleep in a low-glycogen state, increase the duration of low glycogen availability and sleep and temporarily restrict carbohydrates to improve exercise performance.” The sleep-low method involves low-intensit.