A combination of exercise and smart eating will help anyone-from the varsity quarterback to the student who simply needs to fulfill gym requirements. It's also important to recognize that good nutrition is the power source not just for physical activity, but also for mental acuity. This video shows young people how to make healthy eating a priority as they pursue sports and fitness. Viewers encounter the four main categories of physiological health-cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition-while learning how glucose, glycogen, ATP, and other compounds play a role in the body's energy production, via aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Students may be surprised to learn that the amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrates needed by an athlete are roughly similar to what the average person requires-and that pricey supplements are no substitute for real food.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on June 22, 2011. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware. Instructional materials available online.

Nutrition and Fitness (2:50) -- What Happens When We Exercise? (3:51) -- Exercise Fatigue (3:24) -- What Should Athletes Eat? (4:16) -- What Should Athletes Eat?: Water and Electrolytes (2:31) -- Ergogenic Supplements (3:07) -- Nutritional Problems Common Among Athletes (3:36) -- Credits: Nutrition for Sports and Exercise (1:23).