ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam

Which macronutrients are primarily used for muscle repair post-exercise?

1. Fats

2. Sugars

3. Complex carbs and protein

4. Vitamins and minerals

The correct answer is: Complex carbs and protein

The correct choice highlights the roles of complex carbohydrates and protein in muscle repair after exercise. During and after physical activity, the body undergoes various stressors that can damage muscle tissue. Protein is critical in this process as it provides the essential amino acids necessary for repairing and rebuilding that muscle tissue. Consuming protein post-exercise helps stimulate muscle protein synthesis, promoting recovery and growth. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, replenish glycogen stores that are depleted during exercise. Glycogen serves as a primary energy source during physical activity, and restoring these stores is vital for recovery and preparing the muscles for future workouts. By providing energy and supporting the recovery environment, complex carbs work in tandem with protein to facilitate optimal repair and growth following exercise. The other options, while relevant in the context of nutrition, do not play the primary roles in muscle repair as effectively as the combination of complex carbohydrates and protein. Fats serve a different purpose as a more prolonged energy source and are not directly involved in immediate muscle repair. Sugars can provide quick energy but do not contribute significantly to muscle repair compared to protein. Lastly, vitamins and minerals serve essential functions in overall health and metabolic processes, but they do not directly participate in the muscle repair process the way proteins and complex