Question

c) fourteen - year - old olivia is a very active young person. she is on the basketball team, the swim team, and the cross - country team. many of olivias friends are trying out a high - protein, low - carbohydrate diet. they believe that it will help them lose weight. write one paragraph to explain each of the following: (4 marks: 2 marks each) i) what do carbohydrates provide for active young people like olivia? ii) what are the dangers of a high - protein, low - carbohydrate diet?

Explanation:

i) Carbohydrates are the body's main energy - source. For active young people like Olivia, they provide the fuel needed for physical activities such as playing basketball, swimming, and cross - country running. They are broken down into glucose, which is used by cells for energy, helping to maintain endurance and performance during these activities.
ii) A high - protein, low - carbohydrate diet can have several dangers. It may lead to dehydration as the body excretes more water when metabolizing protein. Also, it can put a strain on the kidneys due to the increased workload of processing excess protein. Additionally, a lack of carbohydrates can cause fatigue, as the body doesn't have its primary energy source readily available, and may lead to nutrient deficiencies if not carefully planned.

Answer:

i) Carbohydrates provide the main source of energy for physical activities for active young people like Olivia. They are broken down into glucose for cellular energy, enhancing endurance and performance.
ii) Dangers include dehydration from protein metabolism, kidney strain from excess protein processing, fatigue from lack of primary energy source, and potential nutrient deficiencies.