What factor accelerates glycogen restoration after high-duration exercise?

What factor accelerates glycogen restoration after high-duration exercise?

• A. High carbohydrate meals accelerate glycogen restoration, as well as eating within one hour following exercise.
• B. Protein-only meals accelerate glycogen restoration.
• C. Water intake accelerates glycogen restoration.
• D. Glycogen replenishment occurs only after several days regardless of meals.

Answer: (B)

Carbohydrates supply the glucose needed to rebuild muscle glycogen after long-duration exercise. When you finish exercising, muscles are particularly receptive to taking up glucose and converting it into glycogen because insulin sensitivity is high and glycogen synthase activity is elevated. Eating a high-carbohydrate meal soon after exercise, ideally within the first hour, speeds up this glycogen restoration. Protein on its own doesn’t drive glycogen synthesis, though pairing carbs with protein can help overall recovery by supporting the insulin response and providing amino acids for repair. Water helps with hydration but doesn’t directly increase glycogen synthesis, and glycogen replenishment happens relatively quickly with adequate carbohydrate intake, not only after several days.

Carbohydrates supply the glucose needed to rebuild muscle glycogen after long-duration exercise. When you finish exercising, muscles are particularly receptive to taking up glucose and converting it into glycogen because insulin sensitivity is high and glycogen synthase activity is elevated. Eating a high-carbohydrate meal soon after exercise, ideally within the first hour, speeds up this glycogen restoration. Protein on its own doesn’t drive glycogen synthesis, though pairing carbs with protein can help overall recovery by supporting the insulin response and providing amino acids for repair. Water helps with hydration but doesn’t directly increase glycogen synthesis, and glycogen replenishment happens relatively quickly with adequate carbohydrate intake, not only after several days.