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>to a layman like me, it would seem that professionals wouldn't be publicizing the fact that they have switched to fat-fueled endurance training because it woul
by xiaoma 12y ago
>to a layman like me, it would seem that professionals wouldn't be publicizing the fact that they have switched to fat-fueled endurance training because it would be a massive competitive advantage.
Except it's a disadvantage, not an advantage. All kinds of diets have been tried in the name of performance and the results are pretty clear. The typical world class runner's diets in the top performing country (Kenya) has 76.5 percent of daily calories consumed as carbohydrates. This group of runners has absolutely demolished lower carbohydrate consuming western runners. Marathoners from other top-performing countries (Ethiopia and Japan) have similarly been scrutinized with similar results.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15657475 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15657475
- beachstartup 12y agoyeah, but that's not what we're testing. this data doesn't isolate the variable of being kenyan. the proper experiment would be to take half of the kenyan runners and fat-adapt them, and compare their performance to the other kenyans, as well as their previous selves. has that study been done?
- xiaoma 12y agoThe phenomena isn't limited to Kenyans. Top runners around the world have that kind of diet. You're not going to find a "proper" experiment, but many, many athletes experiment with their diets, and ketogenic diets are pretty well explored ground. Athletes and coaches alike gravitate towards what yields results. Running is an extremely competitive sport with few barriers to entry and the claim of such a low-hanging "massive competitive advantage" is an extraordinary one that requires extraordinary evidence to be taken seriously.