Eating and Exercise
Once we start exercising, our body gets fatigued and hence needs a good diet to eat before and after exercise. A good pre and post-exercise food should be one that gives the body the energy it burned during the workout session. It should also provide more energy to keep the body working without putting undue strain. Each of them has its positives and consumption of all of them depends on the needs.
It is important to know what to eat before exercise and what to avoid. The timing of eating is also a major factor. With everything in check, it is just a matter of time before the person starts to see the positives of having something to eat before exercise.
Exercise is important
Exercise is important for the human body. Our body should be fit and needs to work to keep the functions of the body running smoothly. It is essential for a human to do at least some basic exercise to stay fit and active. There are many different types of exercises that can be done. Some are heavy while some are quite light and don’t need much hard work. Some light exercises include cycling, running, etc.
Other heavy activities include heavy-weight training, heavy cardio, and others. The main point is to do exercise no matter what. If we don’t exercise, we can get various health issues. We can get overweight, our blood sugar level increases and we can also develop cardiac issues.
What to Eat Before Exercise
Many people wonder what they should eat before exercise. It is also a common idea among people that exercise should be done on an empty stomach but this is not good. For starting the workout, it is required to have something eaten before the Physical activity. Options like cereals with milk is a great food that can be eaten before the workout. Another great option is a low-fat yoghurt which is easily available in most places.
It is essential to avoid food that is high in fat content like fried items. Food should be consumed an hour after the workout. If you consume it and start working quickly, it won’t be digested can cause issues, and also can decrease your workout quality. The food, in short, should be light on the stomach but at the same time, should be quite energy-giving.
Drinking water
In this discussion of what to eat before exercise, we should not forget the importance of drinking. Our body is largely of water. The body needs water to keep it hydrated. Water is essential for the body to keep it going. If we don’t drink enough water, our bodies can have fatigue. We can also have issues like dry mouth and headaches. A person can also suffer from issues like dizziness or can also cause fainting. A person can also have loss of motion during the workout if he’s low on water and this can be quite harmful as weights in the gym can cause injury. Also, many people look for sports drinks as an energy booster.
Water is the best option and only it should be used to quench the thirst. Also while drinking water another thing should also be noted, drinking the water should not be overdone. If we drink more than needed, it can cause issues like stomach bloating. For drinking water, it is good to carry a water bottle inside the gym so that you can drink water even during the workout session as we sweat much during the workout and it is good to drink water in between the breaks.
Water vs. Sports drinks
As we know our body is mostly made up of water so it is important to consume a large amount of water daily to keep the body hydrated. For workout sessions, water has always been a choice but now with the advent of sports drinks, many are confused about what to consume and which one is a better option. While the short answer is water why? Well, it is due to various factors. But why do people drink sports drinks? The most common reasons are because of taste and what it claims to offer.
Sports drinks come in a variety of tastes, they are found in tastes like berries, oranges, mangoes, and other fruits. They also claim to be rich in electrolytes. Because of this combination of health and taste people prefer them but are they really tasty? No. They may have electrolytes but they have a large amount of sugar in them which is not good for the healthy.
Water is a better option as it is easily accessible and lacks sugar and carbs. If you still want something different, you can drink consuming coconut water. It is a healthier alternative to the sports drinks. It is tasty and doesn’t have the negatives like high sugar level that is seen in most sports drinks. Now that we are done with drinking, let’s get back to our topic of what to eat before exercise.
Eating After Exercise
To eat before exercise is a great way to have a better health. Now let’s focus on what to eat after the workout and why it is also a good idea. The best way for this is to have a glass of protein shake. There are many protein shakes available today that are high in protein content and taste great as well. The best way to consume the protein shake is to have it in water. If there’s no issue with fat, protein shakes can also be consumed with milk but milk needs time to get digested. Apart from this, there are various other foods as well which can be consumed after the workout.
Whatever you eat, it is important to remember that food items should also be tasty. Many people think that tasty food items should not be eaten and they consume very stale food after exercise. This is not the right way to say even if your body gets its energy from stale or unappetizing food, your appetite will still not be satisfied and you’ll feel hungry after some time again.
Other Food Items to Eat
There are many different food items that are great to eat before exercise. Some of the most easily available items are below. All of these are tasty and quite healthy offerings.
- Eggs: Eggs are a great source of protein, they are easy to make and are quite delicious. They are also a great treat when you want to cook something quickly and without much hassle. They are also quite cheap and easily available. Various recipes can be cooked with eggs. But it is important to cook them in a way that is not heavy on fats and carbs.
- Fruits: Fruits have always been a great treat. They are tasty and quite fun to eat. Having fruits after a workout is a great way to keep the body filled with energy and also to keep your appetite satisfied. You can have fruits like bananas or apples that are great in vitamins, Calcium, and minerals. They are easily available and most of the time, they are quite cheap as well. They are also good to eat before exercise and even after the workout session.
- Oatmeal with fruits: This is also another great option to consider. Oats are easy to make and when you add fruits into it, you get not only a tasty meal but also a healthy option. You can use fat-free milk to prepare your oatmeal.
- Salad: Salads have always been regarded as a healthy diet option. You can have them quickly after your workout session. They are tasty and healthy and you can make a variety of salads daily so that you don’t get bored after eating them. Like fruits, salads are also great to eat before exercise.