Blog Post 3

I am citing a peer reviewed, scholarly journal. The PL o S One is published by the Public Library of Science on an irregular basis in the United States, and has been a publication since 2006. Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory states that this journal “Covers primary research from all disciplines within science and medicine.”

I believe that protein and carbohydrate intake will indeed improve athletic performance. The following summary of an article (source at bottom) should explain why i feel this way.

This article addresses protein and carbohydrate intake immediately after exhaustive exercise to see if there is an improvement in recovery time and therefor athletic performance. The article details a very strict scientific test that is used in order to achieve resting baselines, pre workout blood samples, during workout blood samples, post workout blood samples, and urine samples. The reason behind the study being so controlled and such strict guidelines being followed is because there have been several other studies conducted and they have produced differing results. While it is accepted that protein intake immediately after exercise does increase protein synthesis, there is varying opinions on the ability of protein and carbohydrate intake to decrease recovery time after exhaustive exercise. This study attempts to determine the most effective method of fueling a cyclist’s body after a long day of cycling so the cyclist can wake up and be as rested and recovered as possible. As the article stresses, proper recovery may be a key factor the final outcome in cycling competitions with consecutive racing days such as the Tour de France. This information can also be translated into a daily gym routine, especially if you have a six day per week program.

“…Intake of protein in combination with carbohydrate during the two first hours after exhaustive exercise results in a better and faster recovery of performance as com- pared to intake of carbohydrate only” (Rustad, Per I., et al. "Intake of Protein Plus Carbohydrate During the First Two Hours after Exhaustive Cycling Improves Performance the Following Day”). This statement is arguably one of the most important statements in the article. It tells the reader that the experiment worked, and the hypothesis was correct.

The authors of this article used logos exclusively. They did not speak to the participants, except to direct them on what to do, and the participants did not report on how they felt. As this study was originally designed with cycling in mind, the authors were less concerned with how the participants felt and more concerned with raw data.

Rustad, Per I., et al. "Intake of Protein Plus Carbohydrate During the First Two Hours after Exhaustive Cycling Improves Performance the Following Day." PLoS ONE 11.4 (2016): 1-25. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 July 2016.