Kelsey HigginsonSports Nutrition Coach and Founder at Clutch Day Coaching

Protein isn't the only thing that matters for athletes!

10 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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In this segment, the speaker explains that when athletes do not consume enough carbohydrates and fats, the body will prioritize using dietary protein for immediate energy needs—fueling the heart, brain, and other vital functions—rather than for muscle repair. Consequently, even if an athlete meets their protein target, a deficiency in carbs or fats can cause protein to be converted into glucose, limiting its availability for building muscle. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of consuming appropriate amounts of all three macronutrients—carbohydrates, protein, and fats—to support both energy production and muscle recovery.

Chapters

protein loves to do the job of other nutrients if you're not fueling your body enough. And so if an athlete is eating all the protein he or she needs to be eating, but is under fueling on carbs and fats, protein's going to basically be converted into carbs in the body and won't be used to help repair the muscle. It will first be used to help give your body energy, give your heart the energy it needs to beat, and your brain the energy it needs to function before it will ever help build the muscle. And so that's why we say like we need the proper amounts of carbs, of protein, and then we get to fats.