What Is The Best Source Of Energy During Exercise

While at rest and during low intensity exercise free fatty acids are the predominant energy sources.

What is the best source of energy during exercise.

Moreover fats are the primary fuel source for muscle during low intensity exercise 2 although most fat is stored in the form of triglycerides in fat cells some is stored in muscle cells. During exercise there are four major endogenous sources of energy. Nutrients provide the energy sources for all forms of exercise. And anaerobic glycolysis the breakdown of glucose which is the primary energy source for high intensity exercise of one to three minutes say an 800 meter race.

High intensity exercise of a short duration requires anaerobic sources of atp. The process by which fatty acids and other sources are converted to energy during low intensity exercise. Fat is the most energy dense nutrient utilized during exercise with one gram providing 9 kcal of energy. An alternative energy source to protein being used for energy.

As exercise intensity increases the number of calories burned also increases. Therefore while it is true that fat contributes a greater percentage of the total energy during lower intensity exercise at higher intensity exercise the total quantity of fat utilized may be greater for exercise performed for an equivalent period of time. Fat is your body s preferred source of energy for low intensity exercise. Muscle carbohydrate stores glycogen blood sugar blood fatty acids and intramuscular triacylglycerols.

The extent to which these substrates contribute energy for exercise depends on the intensity and duration of exercise the level of exercise training the initial muscle. During physical exercise stored carbohydrate or glycogen is converted into energy to fuel the muscles but this supply is not endless.