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Do you "burn" nutrients?

  • 11-05-2013 01:55PM
    #1
    Lago
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 364 ✭✭


    This is confusion that's been brought about by calorie counting websites like MyFitnessPal and such. When you exercise, do you "burn" the way it's shown on these sites? I mean if you hit your protein goal for the day and then going for a run, do you need to eat more protein to make up for it?

    Stupid question, I know but it's just something I wanted clarified


Comments

  • #2
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,904 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    "Burn" may not be the right word. We burn energy (primarily carbohydrate) in the same way a car burns diesel or petrol. Think of protein, vitamins and minerals as the other consumables that the car needs - oil and part changes, waxing the paintwork, etc.

    Muscle cells in our body grow old over time and gradually need replacing, hence we need protein. Red blood cells similarly need iron. Bones need calcium. However, if we miss them for a few days and provided things are made up, it won't have drastic effects.

    While we can store fats and some other nutrients and convert carbohydrate to fat, we can't store some vitamins, so if we don't eat them regularly, they get depleted.


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