It’s Not All About The Protein!
Proteins are a MUST for your post workout snack. They build and repair your hard worked muscles. With more lean muscle there’s no doubt you’ll notice a slimmer, toned physique.
But did you know carbohydrates are equally important after your workout? Especially if you just finished an intense cardio routine. After all, exercise depletes the carbohydrates in our body.
A main goal with a workout is to feel vibrant and energized throughout the rest of our day. Since carbohydrates replenish our energy, we have to find a way to replace them.
So don’t be afraid to eat carbs. Your body needs them!
Sugars Are Not So Bad After All!!
There’s one more piece of great news….
Simple, non-refined carbs, that’s right sugars, are the best to eat with your protein after a meal.
These simple sugars spike insulin which speeds up the amount of protein and carbs that are absorbed by your muscle.
In other words, it speeds up your recovery and increases lean muscle growth in a way that protein alone could never do.
Top 5 Foods To Eat After A Workout!
These top 5 foods to eat after a workout hold the perfect proportion of both carbohydrates and protein. You’ll feel tight and toned in no time at all and with an abundance of energy too!
1. Quinoa Flakes
Quinoa is a seed that contains the perfect combination of carbohydrates and protein.
Its one of the only carbohydrate
s filled with the essential amino acids lysine and isoleucine, the most important amino acids for muscle repair and growth.
Quinoa flakes are perfect for busy people: if you don’t know when your next meal will be this is the best option for you.
Quinoa contains slow release carbohydrates instead of fast release. This give you a constant source of energy hours after your workout. You’ll feel full longer too.
2. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is infamous for its high amount of probiotics (healthy gut bacteria that helps with digestion).
But did you know it’s one of the best post workout snacks? Here’s why:
- It contains the simple sugar lactose which is easily absorbed after your workout.
- Greek yogurt has over double the amount of protein than its plain yogurt counterpart.
For comparison purposes 100 gram unit was used. A real portion is about 2/3 of a cup giving Greek yogurt 11 grams of protein and 5 grams of sugar per serving.
3. Apple with 1 tablespoon Almond Butter
Almond butter is an amazing butter, but don’t feel limited to only almond butter! Try hazelnut butter, pean
ut butter or tahini. They all contain fast acting, easily absorbed protein.
Keep the peel on your apple: Apples are high in naturally occurring sugars fructose, but under the skin they also contain a compound known as Ursolic acid which prevents muscle wasting.
And after all the hard work you did to create your lean muscle, you definitely want to hold on to it!
4. Chocolate Milk
If your workout is non-stop action packed then chocolate milk is your perfect post workout snack.
Cacao relaxes tense muscles, while the protein and sugar combo repair muscle fast.
Make your own chocolate milk for more health benefits: One glass milk, one tablespoon raw cacao and a tablespoon of honey is all you need.
5. Two Tablespoons Hummus With Carrots
If your main goal is weight loss, this lower calorie post workout snack is the best option for you. Here is why:
- 1 cup of carrots only has 52 calories. It’s high in sugars (6 grams per cup) which quickly fuels your body.
- Hummus is a filling dip made of chickpeas, a protein and carbohydrate combined.
- Even though this snack is less than 200 calories, the high fiber in the carrots and hummus keep you satisfied for longer.
Some other vegetables to dip into hummus are celery, sugar snap peas, snap beans, and asparagus!
Muscle Is A 48 Hour Metabolic Booster
Remember: Lean muscle increases your metabolism and creates a lean, svelte physique so you want as much as possible!
It is important to feed your muscles with the appropriate food after a workout so that you can maximize your results!
Stick to these Top 5 Foods To Eat After A Workout and you will be well on your way to achieving amazing results!
Three out of these five after workout snacks can be blended together for the ultimate fast acting smoothie
Can you guess which ones?
About Alicia Jones
As a fitness and health professional for 9 years and the owner of the Mobile Fitness Company Destination Fit, Alicia inspires others to find their unique healthy lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, whether it’s the busy mom who barely has time for herself, or the beginner who just wants to take it slow, Alicia believes everyone has unique needs that change their exercise habits. When she’s not training her clients, or writing healthy tips, she’s baking secretly healthy cupcakes and delicious vegetable meals. She’s an organic foodie, who occasionally indulges in cheat days. She runs, she uses her own body to work out and most of all to keep things balanced, when she’s tired, she takes a nap. To visit her blog go to http://www.destinationfittraining.ca/our-blog/ follow her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destinationfit.ca
