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How Do You Define Energy?

How Do You Define Energy?
The word “energy” in the context of exercise can be vague. Is it a racing heart? A tingling of extreme readiness, even jitters? Is it stamina-related, an enhanced ability to push harder in the most difficult part of a workout? Do people experience exercise energy differently, and if so do they prefer different types of energy? Without a working definition of “energy” as it relates to exercise, it’s difficult to decide what food, drink, or product can best support it. Merriam-Webster defines energy as “dynamic quality,” “vigorous exertion of power,” and “usable power (such as heat or electricity),” among others. “Usable power” is definitely something we need for workouts. The two primary energy sources oxidized (or burned) during exercise are fats and carbohydrates. Fats and carbohydrates are two of the three food macronutrients (the other being protein), and the body breaks them down into units of cell energy called ATP (adenosine triphosphate) that powers your efforts. How much carbohydrates and fats your body uses may depend on various factors, but the big one is exercise intensity. The more intense your activity, the more your body relies on carbohydrates; the less intense (or “submaximal”) the activity, the more it relies on fats. So, during exercise, your body mainly uses fats and carbohydrates for energy or “usable power”.

LIVSTEADY® ENERGY

LIVSTEADY® stands uniquely on its own as a long-lasting, low-glycemic complex carbohydrate that provides reliable, consistent, workout energy. It’s a food product that acts as the core or the base of your workout nutrition and delivers a slow release of carbohydrate to steady your blood sugar, keeping you fueled and feeling good. LIVSTEADY originated to meet the specific needs of an infant with life-threatening hypoglycemia, but its ability to provide a smart, steady source of exercise energy has made it a preferred fuel source for athletes and workout enthusiasts of all levels in the endurance and fitness worlds. 

OTHER TYPES OF ENERGY

Of course, there are other advantages and strategies that may additionally support the feelings of energy and/or output during exercise. Caffeine can excite the brain, increasing feelings of being alert. Creatine supplementation can help the Creatine-Phosphate (CP) Energy system maximally provide ATP during the very short window it contributes to exercise energy. Branched-chain amino acids aim to support muscle protein synthesis and recovery; protein powders are designed to support daily dietary protein needs- which can vary significantly based on the individual. Supplementation of beta-alanine may improve performance through increased muscle buffering capacity, as it acts as a rate-limiter for carnosine. Depending on the needs and goals of an individual, any of the above-mentioned supplements and compounds may assist in overall workout energy and/or recovery through the pathways they are designed to support, but they do not deliver the kind of energy or "usable power" that LIVSTEADY does. UCAN nutrition products are the only ones powered by LIVSTEADY. Want to throw it in with your protein shake? Have at it! Working out at 5AM and love your stimulant-based pre-workout powder? Try it mixing it with LIVSTEADY for sustained energy with a boost! Like it all by itself? So do we!

 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR INFOGRAPHIC ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRE-WORKOUT FUEL SOURCES

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