Recommended dietary allowance (RDA)

Recommended dietary allowance (RDA)

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) the amounts of selected nutrients considered adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of healthy people. The RDA are based on scientific knowledge and have been presented by a committee of the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the...

Vitamins Explored

Vitamins are normally associated with what the body finds difficult to produce on its own. These substances are important for a number of bodily functions and are required in small dosages. So for our own knowledge we can break vitamins down into ‘vital minimums’. In...

Are carbohydrates of benefit during a race?

Running for over 90-120 minutes at race pace can totally deplete glycogen stores even if well loaded beforehand. This means your muscles will have to resort to fat or protein for energy. As fat requires oxygen to burn, you will have to slow right down (or walk!), so...
Food sources high in carbohydrates

Food sources high in carbohydrates

Most athletes know the importance of carbohydrates. And many see their main source coming from breads, pastas and cereals. However, the table below will show you further examples of foods that do provide carbohydrates. In selecting the food source, the food group is...

What are carbohydrates

What are carbohydrates? All carbohydrates are made up from sugars. There are a number of different types of sugars but in the body all carbohydrates metabolism converts sugar to glucose, our body’s preferred energy source. Glucose is the main sugar present in many...

How to calculate the Energy available from foods

To calculate the energy available from a food, multiply the number of grams of carbohydrate, protein, and fat by 4,4, and 9, respectively. Then add the results together. For example, 1 slice of bread with a tablespoon of peanut butter on it contains 16 grams...