 [ Symptoms ] are certain nutrients depleted with strenuous exercise [ Disease ] exercise uses fuel the body is fuel is glucose which come from carbohydrates that is the reason long distance runners typically carbo load before an event and after a long run they usually need to refuel by consuming high carb foods such as bagels bananas or fruit juice strenuous exercise depletes fluids as well especially in hot weather as for single nutrients stores of sodium potassium magnesium and some b vitamins may also be reduced after strenuous exercise premenopausal female athletes may run a risk of iron deficiency some sports medicine experts think that antioxidants may help athletes recover after a strenuous workout by neutralizing free radicals generated by exercise that has not been proven however and no single antioxidant stands out as particularly important although vitaminmineral formulas are marketed to athletes all of the nutrients that help power athletic performance can be found in a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables