I was just reading the ongoing “protein” debate on the old forum. Since we have this nifty new threading feature, I thought I’d start a new thread.
The debate in the other thread seems to me to suffer from a lack of parameter definition. When one makes claims about nutrition in a forum such as this, it’s important to define one’s goal. Since BPL isn’t a weight loss or general-health organization, I have to assume that we are talking about nutrition as it relates to hiking or climbing performance.
With that in mind: are we talking about nutrition during an endurance event, or afterward for recovery?
With respect to nutrition during an event, such as a long-distance, continuous hiking day, my research indicates that one should focus on regularly consuming easily-digested carbohydrates with a low-to-moderate glycemic index, with 10% to 25% protein. A small amount of fat is helpful.
After stopping, you can shorten your recovery time by immediately eating 200-400 calories consisting of 50% to 75% high glycemic index carbohydrates and 25% to 50% protein.
This advice is taken from a variety of sources, mostly in the long-distance running and adventure racing realm. I think those activities have a high degree of correlation to long-distance, high-speed hiking.
