What to Eat After Workout?

by Grace Smith on August 5, 2009 · diet

in diet

For an athlete or someone into a nutrition and fitness regime, the post workout meal is the most important meal of the day. However the presence of so many shakes, the hassle of fitting these shakes with your diet and plain lack of information on whether to eat or not to eat after workout confuse him.

The post workout meal need not be complicated. In fact, it can become the simplest meal of the day. It can even be a quick meal. The truth is, you only need to understand what your body needs or doesnt need and where to get this nutrition.

So what you should or should not eat after workout?

1. How soon should I eat? 2. How much of protein and carbs should I eat? 3. What foods should protein and carb be coming from?

The window of time is that time that exists after a workout when it is most beneficial for the body to receive its nutrition. Take it within one hour after workout. If possible, take it within 30 minutes. Eating long digesting foods like egg whites, chicken and tuna fish is not advisable after a workout since these foods are whole foods and not easily digested. Thus when eating these foods after workout and by the time, the body is ready to receive them, lots of time would have passed. It is a reason why whey protein powder is the best. Just mix it with some type of liquid thereby making it a shake, you are ready to go.

There is this so called window of time that exists after a workout when it is most beneficial for your body to receive its nutrition. Try to take it within one hour after workout. If possible, 30 minutes would be better. Since time is of utmost importance, eating long digesting foods like egg whites, chicken and tuna fish are not the ideal type of protein. These foods are whole foods and the protein they digest slowly. Thus after eating these foods after workout and by the time the protein is digested and ready to be used by the body , lots of time would have already passed . That is why the ideal food to be taken after workout is a whey protein powder mixed with some type of liquid thus making a whey protein shake.

Carbs are important after workout. It is used by the body to restore muscle glycogen. The absence of carb in the post workout meal will break down muscle tissue. But there good and bad carbs. Examples of these are whole wheat bread, brown rice, etc. They have fibers. They are good at any time of the day but not after workout because they slow down digestion.

Carbs are important after a workout. It will be used by the body to restore muscle glycogen. If your post workout meal does not contain carbs, the body may break down muscle tissue. But there are good and bad carbs. Whole wheat bread, brown rice, etc has fiber. This is what makes good at any time of the day but not after a workout because fiber slows down digestion and the post workout meal is all about speed. Thus a baked potato may be a good choice of carb. But it may be the ideal food this time because of the presence of dextrose. It is not a supplement. It is a type of sugar. While you should not be eating sugar at any time of the day, post workout is the exception. Along with whey protein, dextrose should be ideal. Bring a shaker bottle to the gym. Blend whey protein powder, dextrose, glutamine and creatine in it.

Now you know how significant it is to know more about 6 packs ab diet .

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