by Marisa Michael, MSc, RDN, LD
Do you have a high altitude trip planned soon? Maybe you live at a lower elevation, but are going backpacking, skiing, or rock climbing at higher elevations. There are a few things to know to make your trip more enjoyable. Planning ahead and knowing how your body responds to altitude can make the difference in feeling amazing or not being able to finish what you started.
High Altitude Defined:
- Lower altitude = 1000-2000 meters (3280-6561 feet)
- Moderate altitude = 2000-3000 meters (6561-9842 feet)
- High altitude = 3000-5000 meters (9842-16404 feet)
- Extreme altitude = >5000 meters (>16404 feet)
What does “thinner air” mean?
As you go higher, the air is “thinner.” This means oxygen molecules are spread farther apart than at sea level. What does that mean for your body? For each breath of air you inhale, less oxygen is delivered to your tissues.
Why is this a problem?
Less oxygen can result in decreased performance, especially if you haven’t had time to acclimate. Your body won’t really have time to adapt physiologically to the higher altitude if you’re only there for a few days. If you’re going to be at higher altitude for weeks, your body will begin to adapt. No matter what length of time you’re planning on staying at high altitude, it’s important to eat and hydrate right
Tip #1: Consume adequate calories
Weight loss is a concern when spending a lot of time at high altitude. Even if you’ve been wanting to shed that extra 15 pounds, now’s not the time. You want your body to get enough energy to fuel your adventure. If you’re losing weight on your trip, that is a sign that you need to eat more.
Possible reasons for weight loss:
- You might not have access to as much food as you need on the mountain
- Your energy expenditure (amount of energy your body uses) increases at high altitude
- You are exerting more effort because of the difficulty of the terrain or nature of your trip
- Appetite is sometimes decreased
Eating more calories can be helpful to aid your body in adapting to altitude and exercise. It can also help your immune system, which can be compromised at higher altitude.
Tip #2: Consume carbohydrate-rich foods
Your body also needs more carbohydrates at high altitudes. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol are all elevated with exercise at altitude. These hormones increase the use of carbohydrate for fuel. Carbohydrate is also your body’s preferred energy source, especially at high altitude.
Researchers recommend at least 60% of your intake be from carbohydrates. This can be done by eating foods and drinking fluids that contain carbs.
Sources of carbohydrates:
- Bread
- Pasta
- Fruit
- Potatoes
- Milk
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Tortillas
- Gatorade or other sports drinks
Tip #3: Consume adequate protein
There isn’t a lot of information about protein intake at altitude and how it may affect muscle growth. It’s probably safe to assume that you’ll need at least as much protein at a higher elevation that you would at sea level. Eating about 20-30 grams of protein after exercise and enough overall protein throughout the day is probably sufficient.
Tip #4: Don’t fear fat
Like protein, we don’t know a lot about ideal fat intake at higher elevations either. But high-fat foods tend to be higher in calories, which is good for eating enough overall calories to prevent weight loss.
Sources of fat:
- Jerky
- Chocolate
- Variety of nuts and nut butters
- Olive and coconut oil
- Butter or ghee
Tip #5: Load up on iron before your trip
You want to start your trip with adequate iron stores. Attempting a high-altitude adventure with low iron stores will leave you feeling fatigued. If you are planning a high-altitude climb, or climb at high altitude frequently, it’s worth checking your iron. Go to a physician at least six weeks before your trip and ask for some blood work to be drawn to test your iron stores. If you have any abnormalities, talk with your doctor and/or sports dietitian about supplementation and adding iron-rich foods into your diet.
Sources of iron:
- Fortified grains
- Beef
- Spinach
- Lentils
- Kidney beans
- Organ meats
- Eggs
Tip #6: Don’t forget to hydrate
At high elevations, it is easier to become more dehydrated (which is a bad thing) because your respiratory and urinary water losses are greater. This translates into less overall blood volume in your body. Which means your heart rate may increase, but cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute) decreases.
Why is this a problem?
This means for each heartbeat, your muscles and other tissues aren’t getting the same blood and oxygen delivered to them that they are used to. Heat regulation also becomes more difficult. According to one study, there is about a 3% decrease in exercise capacity for every 300 meters above 1500 meters. Imagine trying to hike a tough route at high altitude when you’re not used to it. Perceived effort is increased. To make matters worse, usually sleep is compromised at high altitude as well. Drinking enough can help you feel better.
How much and what types of fluid should I drink?
Fluid needs are around 3-5 liters per day (that’s about 13-21 eight-ounce cups). This is a lot, especially if you struggle drinking enough in general. Some studies have shown that drinking a beverage that has carbohydrate and electrolytes (like sports drinks) are better at hydrating than water alone at altitude. You need extra fluids because of increased fluid loss through respiration and sweat from dry air. There’s some evidence that good sleep patterns and adequate hydration can help prevent symptoms of altitude sickness. Drink regularly and don’t rely on thirst, as this might not be a reliable indicator of how often you need to drink.
With a little extra attention to your food and fluid intake, your high altitude adventure can be successful. Beat fatigue and dehydration by remembering to consume extra calories, carbohydrates, protein and fluids.
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Disclaimer: This is general nutrition advice and you should talk with your physician before implementing any dietary or lifestyle changes.
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References:
Kechikan, D. (2011). Optimizing nutrition for performance at altitude. Journal of Special Operations Medicine, 11, 12-17.
Ladd E, Shea KM, Bagley P, Auerbach PS, Pirrotta E, Wang E, Lipman GS. (2016). Hydration status as a predictor of high-altitude mountaineering performance. Cureus, 8(12): e918.
Ross M, Martin DT. (2015) Altitude, cold and heat. In Burke L and Deakin V (eds) Clinical Sports Nutrition (5th). Sydney, Australia, McGraw Hill, pp767-791
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