Exercising will help you stay in shape or slim down. Exercises are one part of keeping your body fit and healthy.
The other part is the diet, and many would agree that it is even more important than sport.
Certain foods will help your body receive the ultimate benefits of your exercise.
Here are just 10 foods that will help you increase the effectiveness of your workout.
Pea Protein Powder
Getting enough proteins is the basis for every good workout, and most people use supplements to get them. It is beneficial because peas contain branched-chain amino acids, which is helpful during muscle tissue repair. Next time you need a post-workout protein boost, get it from the pea protein powder.
Pomegranate Juice
Antioxidants are known to speed up recovery after overexertion, so they make a great addition to your fitness menu. Pomegranates are filled with antioxidants and nutrients that will strengthen your brain and muscles.
The only drawback is that you should take high doses of pomegranate to get its full benefits. However, drinking a glass of pomegranate juice is just as effective, and it will immediately restore your strength after a workout.
Watercress
Exercising is good for you, but sometimes it can cause DNA damage. Adding a fist-full of watercress to your smoothie or salad can help prevent that and reduce fatigue. It is practically tasteless, yet packed with all the goodness your body needs, so you can feel its effect immediately.
Coffee
Forget energy drinks. Nothing gives you a good energy boost like caffeine, and a cup of coffee has plenty of that and more. With higher levels of antioxidants than any other drink and the full glycogen profile, coffee will not only get you a good buzz during your workout but will also cut down on your recovery time. Just make sure you drink your coffee, black, no milk, or sugar.
Blueberries
Blueberries will provide you with your daily dose of vitamins and will ease the pain in your sore muscles. Their anti-inflammatory properties will help your body heal after exertion, while the antioxidants and vitamins will improve your immune system. To give your body the best benefits of blueberries, eat a cup of them an hour before your workout, and you can even have some afterward to restore your energy.
Salmon
Salmon is an excellent source of proteins and nutrients that will complement your workout routine. Salmon is a great source of proteins and amino acids. It will help you build muscle mass, and the omega-3 fatty acids are known to increase endorphin levels that will keep you pumped up during the workout. Eating salmon also reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and to get the full benefits, you have to eat it only three times a week.
Watermelon
It is important to keep hydrated when working out, and the watermelon is the best fruit for the job. But that’s not its only benefit. Watermelons have a very high citrulline content that keeps your blood pressure low and stable. They also widen the arteries, helping the oxygen-rich blood flow easier, getting your body extra resilience. So before your next workout, eat a slice of watermelon, and don’t throw away the white rind. That’s where most of the citrulline is stored.
Raw Honey
Sugar is always good for some extra energy, and your brain certainly needs it after a workout. To prevent that, a spoon of raw, all-natural, and unprocessed honey before your workout will do wonders. Since the honey digests slowly, it will give small doses of much-needed blood sugar throughout the workout, keeping your insulin levels normal and giving you extra energy. Thus, you will be able to workout more without tiring. Sure, honey is sugar, but its the healthy kind that your body can process a lot easier.
Beet Juice
No food is better for your blood than beetroot. While the strong earthy taste makes beetroots less desirable for some, beet juice offers an even more significant energy boost than coffee or any other energy drink. It has many nutrients, essential vitamins, and minerals that will give you more energy than you ever had before. To get the full benefits of beet juice, make sure you get yours freshly made, not store-bought. A glass of it in the morning will keep you going all day long.
Dark Chocolate
We all think chocolates the worst enemy of those trying to lose weight or stray fit. And that may be true for most milk or hazelnut chocolates, but not for the raw and bitter dark chocolate. It is actually full of antioxidants, great energy booster, and it is also considered a slimming superfood. Only two squares of dark chocolate are enough to help improve your heart rate, insulin levels, energy, and mood since it releases the dopamine.
