Asked by Gerald
Molecules of Life
Are You What You Eat?
Review the meal options below and pick which option you believe is best for a marathon runner to eat
the night before the big race. Then, justify your answer below with a scientific concept.
Meal A: Baked potato with butter, sour cream, cheese, chives, and bacon
Meal B: Steak and broccoli
Meal C: Meatball spaghetti
Explain your choice in the space below.
1
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
Best choice: Meal C — meatball spaghetti.
Why: Marathon performance depends largely on stored carbohydrate (glycogen) in muscle and liver. Pasta is a high-carbohydrate, mostly complex-carb meal that helps top up glycogen the night before the race. Insulin released after eating drives glycogen synthase activity, converting glucose to glycogen for later use during prolonged aerobic exercise; having ample glycogen reduces the risk of “hitting the wall.”
Why not the others:
- Meal A (baked potato with lots of butter, cheese, bacon) has carbs, but the high fat content slows gastric emptying and can cause stomach upset or sluggishness the next day. The heavy fat and protein also blunt how quickly and comfortably you can top off glycogen.
- Meal B (steak and broccoli) is low in carbohydrates, so it won’t adequately replenish glycogen stores before a long run.
Additional practical points: choose familiar foods to avoid GI distress, keep fat and excess fiber moderate, and include some protein with the carbs for satiety and muscle repair.
Why: Marathon performance depends largely on stored carbohydrate (glycogen) in muscle and liver. Pasta is a high-carbohydrate, mostly complex-carb meal that helps top up glycogen the night before the race. Insulin released after eating drives glycogen synthase activity, converting glucose to glycogen for later use during prolonged aerobic exercise; having ample glycogen reduces the risk of “hitting the wall.”
Why not the others:
- Meal A (baked potato with lots of butter, cheese, bacon) has carbs, but the high fat content slows gastric emptying and can cause stomach upset or sluggishness the next day. The heavy fat and protein also blunt how quickly and comfortably you can top off glycogen.
- Meal B (steak and broccoli) is low in carbohydrates, so it won’t adequately replenish glycogen stores before a long run.
Additional practical points: choose familiar foods to avoid GI distress, keep fat and excess fiber moderate, and include some protein with the carbs for satiety and muscle repair.
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