Fuel for the fire: nutrition for hiking and hillwalking
FOOD IS FUEL, and together with the oxygen we breathe it keeps the fires burning in our body, generating heat, the energy we need to function, and supplying the raw materials to repair and build tissue. If we are poorly fuelled, injury, exhaustion or poor decision-making become more likely, so getting the right food on board on the hill is essential for a successful day out.
THE BASICS
Essential nutrients
After eating, our gut breaks down food into fatty acids, glucose, amino acids and other nutrients, and our bloodstream delivers oxygen and these nutrients to the cells in our
