We Do Science - The Sports Nutrition Podcast

#130 - "Contextualising Fat Oxidation During Exercise" with Ed Maunder PhD(c)

Feb 19, 2020

In this episode, Ed Maunder PhD(c) discusses contextualising fat oxidation during exercise. Topics include defining and differentiating fat oxidation and fat burning, substrate oxidation during endurance exercise, testing methods for maximal fat oxidation, relevance to exercise performance and a case study on Ironman triathlon. The chapter descriptions highlight the importance of fuel utilization, customizing exercise protocols, and optimizing substrate utilization in triathlon training.

01:13:30

Episode guests

Ed Maunder

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Exercise intensity affects the body's utilization of fat and carbohydrates as fuel sources.

Maximal fat oxidation may not be the most important metric to focus on for endurance athletes.

Preserving carbohydrate stores and enhancing fat metabolism are crucial for optimal performance in Ironman triathlons.

Deep dives

Overview of the podcast episode

This podcast episode features an interview with guest Ed Monda, a researcher in heat stress and endurance athletes. The conversation explores the topic of fuel utilization and substrate metabolism in endurance sports. The host and guest discuss the relationship between exercise intensity and fat oxidation, highlighting that fat oxidation increases at low intensities and decreases at higher intensities, while carbohydrate metabolism shows a linear increase with exercise intensity. They also touch on the differences between intramuscular and peripheral fat stores, emphasizing that longer duration exercise leads to a shift in fat and carbohydrate utilization. The discussion further delves into the challenges of accurately determining an individual's fat-burning zone and the importance of considering overall energy balance for weight and fat loss.

Introduction

2min

Fuel Utilization in Endurance Athletes

21min

The Fat Burning Zone and its Limitations

22min

Customizing Exercise Protocols

8min

Optimizing Substrate Utilization in Triathlon Training

10min

Contextualizing Fat Oxidation during Exercise

10min

Appreciation for the Conversation and Mention of Heat Stress

2min

Episode 130 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition's "We Do Science" podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss "Contextualising Fat Oxidation During Exercise" with Ed Maunder PhD(c) (Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand).

Discussion Topics Include:

Defining and differentiating "fat oxidation" and "fat burning"
Fat as a "fuel" for exercise: storage and metabolism
Substrate oxidation (fuel use) during endurance and ultra-endurance exercise
Substrate availability and performance: a case for optimising maximal fat oxidation?
Testing methods to determine maximal fat oxidation (FatMax) and its value to inform performance nutrition strategies
Maximal fat oxidation: what we know, don't know, and what's relevant to elite and recreational endurance athletes
Relevance to exercise performance: substrate utilisation during Ironman triathlon case study discussion

Key Paper(s) Discussed / Referred to:

Related Podcast Episodes:

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