Zinc helps repair tissues and provides for growth. Fats provide the largest source of energy. They contain about twice as many calories per unit than proteins or carbohydrates. This means that fats can provide the largest amount of energy in the least amount of food. One setback is these are the nutrients that take the longest to digest.
Carbohydrates are the best source of food energy.
These are broken down into a substance called glucose. The body cannot store large amounts of energy in the form of carbohydrates. As such, carbohydrate intake for an athlete is advised to be spread out over the course of a day. The understanding that pasta is good for an athlete stems from this scientific data. Proteins are the last class of nutrients.