There are certain foods which will keep your energy up for long cardio workouts. Here is 6 Pre-Workout Foods
While most people often think of diet and exercise as two different things, they both have similar functions. They are designed to keep your body healthy and strong. So, it only goes to reason that if you want stellar results in the area of health and fitness, then you need to address both.
After all, you can’t eat fast food every day and expect that exercise is going to undo all the damage you’ve done. Even if you’re able to control your weight, there’s more to your health than just numbers on the scale. There’s the cholesterol that’s hardening in your arteries and the sodium which is raising your blood pressure.
And, what you eat greatly influences how effective you are with your exercise program. For instance, there are certain foods which will help you build more muscle and there are specific things you can eat that will keep your energy up for long cardio workouts.
6 Pre-Workout Foods
Start adding the foods that follow into your diet and just watch the image in the mirror transform into all that you desire…
Pre-Cardio Favorites
When it comes to cardiovascular exercise, you need foods that are going to give you energy from the minute you start to move until the minute you take your final step across the finish line, so to speak. Essentially, they have to fuel you from beginning to end so that you have the endurance to complete your entire workout.
What foods can help you do this?
Honey
Honey is something that professional athletes all over the world have been consuming for ages in an effort to improve their stamina. The sugars it contains give them the energy boost that they need, but they are natural so they don’t affect blood sugar in a way that results in the dreaded energy drop. The fact that it’s also so pleasing to the taste buds makes it one of the best options pre-cardio that you can have.
Take a tablespoon of this all natural food and either eat it straight out of the jar or add it to a cup of green tea before you start your sweat session. Green tea has numerous health benefits such as a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, in addition to increased weight loss so it would be like you’re getting two for one.
Complex Carbs
If you engage in long aerobic sessions, then you’re going to need to eat something that will sustain your hunger and energy throughout them. There’s nothing worse than being mid-workout and losing steam or feeling your hunger increase because your body has used up all the energy you’ve given it.
One way to do this is to eat some sort of complex carb about an hour or two before you hit the gym. As your body is digesting it, it is pulling all the energy out of it that is necessary for you to complete your session, leaving you sustained the entire time you’re sweating your way to fitness.
Some great options are oatmeal (maybe with a little bit of honey), whole wheat toast (perhaps with a touch of honey), or whole wheat pasta (you may want to leave the honey off this one). Foods like these will help get you through your grueling cardio sessions so you can burn your extra calories efficiently and effectively.
Fruit
Not only are fruits great tasting and easy to grab, but they are also loaded full of the vitamins and minerals your body requires to operate at maximum capacity. Their natural sugars give you the energy you need to have a great workout and the fiber in them helps to keep your hunger at bay in the process.
One suggestion, though, is to eat some sort of protein with your fruit. Not only will it satisfy your hunger longer, the two together create just the right fuel to supply your body what it needs to get you in tip top shape.
Strength Training Power Foods
When you’re lifting weights or doing body resistance exercises, it’s very important that you fuel your muscles. When you perform strength training exercises, you are effectively creating miniscule tears in your muscle fibers. It’s when these tears heal that your muscles become bigger and stronger.
There are some foods that you can eat pre-workout that will hasten and support that process, such as:
Eggs
Eggs are one of the greatest sources of muscle healing protein you can consume. At almost seven grams per egg, you’re sure to give your muscles exactly what they need to reach maximum levels of fitness.
Although they’re a protein powerhouse, eggs have gotten a bad rap for years due to the amount of cholesterol they contain. However, research has shown that the cholesterol in eggs has no real impact on blood cholesterol levels. Just to be on the safe side, some health experts recommend limiting your egg consumption to no more than two a day.
Also, while it has been suggested to put raw eggs in nutritional drinks, it isn’t recommended. Eggs carry salmonella bacteria which is extremely harmful. So, you’re better off cooking your eggs to make sure they’re safe to eat. You can poach them, hard boil them or cook them in any other way as long as they’re heated all the way through.
Almonds
Just as eggs have a high protein content, so do almonds. Although nuts like almonds are higher in fat content, research has shown that it is healthy fat. It lowers your bad cholesterol levels and raises your good.
Eating just a handful prior to hitting the weight room will fuel your muscles and give them the strength and endurance they need to survive your workout session. In addition, the fiber in them will keep your tummy satisfied in the process.
Just don’t overdo it by eating them with abandon. As with most anything, moderation is the key.
Salmon
Just as the previous two foods are high in muscle enhancing protein, salmon is right up there with them. One thing that sets this super-fish apart, though, is that it has heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. These help your body reduce inflammation making your workouts easier because you’re not suffering through with stiff joints. They also improve your brain function so your increased alertness will help you to focus on proper form and technique.
Cook up a filet with some lemon and dill and eat it alone or put it on top of a pile of spinach for more body healthy benefits. You could also make salmon patties and eat them on two slices of whole wheat bread (which is a complex carb) for more energy benefits.
Make your time at the gym count by fueling your body with foods like these that will get you closer to your health and fitness goals. You deserve it. (youqueen.com)
