Ever wonder what you should be eating before a workout to perform at your peak?
Pre-workout nutrition has a direct impact on your metabolism andenergy levels.
A balanced pre-workout meal can maximize your performance during training and speed up recovery.
At the same time, it replenishes your glycogen stores, per theNational Academy of Sports Medicine.
While muscle glycogen stores remain fairly stable overnight, liver glycogen content decreases rapidly during sleep.
Your body has different nutritional requirements at different times of the day.
For best results, plan your meals around your workouts.
Runners, for example, have higher energy requirements than power athletes, as theInternational Sports Sciences Associationexplains.
Therefore, theyneed more carbson a daily basis.
A balanced pre-workout meal should also deliver moderate amounts of lean protein.
It all comes down to your fitness goals and the sport practiced.
Your overall diet matters, too.
Both protein and dietary fats can serve as a source of fuel, notes theMichigan Medicine.
Since nut butters are high in fat, have a go at keep your portions small.
Experiment with different foods to see how your body reacts.
If you’re short on time or not feeling hungry, reach for aprotein shakeor smoothie.
Another option is to drink a pre-workoutcup of coffeefor a caffeine boost.
