There has been recent discussion as to whether or not the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet can impair the physical performance of athletic athletes. 'elite. An LCHF diet means eating fewer carbohydrates and a higher percentage of fat, instead of foods like pasta and bread and low-nutrition and sugary foods, you eat real foods including proteins, natural fats and vegetables. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets can have effects on metabolism and performance across a range of intensities at which endurance athletes train. Many argue whether the low-carb, high-fat diet is suitable for elite athletes. While studies show that certain foods can help reduce food intake and cause weight loss, it has been revealed that a low-carb, high-fat diet can cause increased oxygen demand during exercise, reducing the amount of energy production required for maximum performance. These types of diets require an adjustment period of approximately one to two weeks, to allow the body to fully adapt to new eating habits, which could affect the body and performance of elite athletes. Studies show that the LCHF diet can reduce fat storage and increase fat burning, while preserving muscle mass so that improvements in body configuration are maintainable. The LCHF diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, comes from ketosis, a state the body enters when in starvation mode. When the body can no longer produce glucose from carbohydrates, it resorts to consuming stored fat, resulting in weight loss. Athletes in ketosis can perform well at a steady endurance pace, while consuming fewer calories than those who depend on carbohydrates. When athletes become faster after adapting to ketosis, weight loss is often a contributing factor to the increase in speed. this shows that the LCHF diet can be a good solution for long-distance, high-endurance athletes looking to improve speed. However, while the low-carb, high-fat diet has been adapted by numerous athletes and sports professionals, opponents argue that athletes cannot obtain sufficient energy, reducing race times and performance. Professor Louisa Burke, head of sports nutrition at the Australian Institute of Sport, said that "although the LCHF diet may increase the ability of muscles to use fat as a fuel source, there is a lack of evidence to suggest that this diet improved sports performance". : This is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Studies have shown that elite athletes excelled in carbohydrate consumption compared to those on the LCHF diet. Carbohydrates are a cheaper fuel for the body and athletes who consumed carbohydrate-targeted diets achieved performance improvements after training while the group who consumed the LCHF diet failed to improve, thus suggesting that carbohydrates are more efficient at producing energy for muscles, therefore, the LCHF diet may not be suitable for elite athletes.