The Importance of Pre-Workout Nutrition
November 11, 2013
No matter what kind of workout you’re planning, nutrition is an essential element that helps you perform your best during practice or on race day. Staying hydrated and putting the best kind of nutrients into your body before you hike the hills or master a marathon is crucial to your body’s health and your workout performance. There are several ways you can make sure you are getting your body fueled and fortified for your upcoming sweat sessions. The following are some easy ways to get those necessary nutrients.
Energy Bars
Energy bars are one the easiest and quickest ways to fuel up before you start your workout. Energy bars are generally high in carbohydrates (and usually delicious!), which is the most important ingredient to ingest pre-workout. Carbs keep more reserves ready so you have a better burn and keep your energy at the level you need to finish strong. Energy bars are an easy and accessible item to keep in your gym bag and grab on-the-go, so no matter what, you are ready to rock.
Energy Gels
For a quick and easy way to energize, energy gels are a great for an athlete on the go. Energy gels are easy to digest and absorbed quickly, making these a perfect pre-workout snack. Energy gels sustain your energy, enhance your performance, and prohibit muscular fatigue, ensuring your energy extends to the end of your workout. Toss a few of these in your gym bag and be prepared to perform no matter where or when your next workout happen.
Energy Drinks
Hydration is just as important as nutrition when it comes to working out. Becoming dehydrated during a workout will not only slow you down, but it can also harm your health. Because water is critical to the balance of the body’s systems, hydrating with water or energy drinks is essential to the way your body works and feels. A lack of fluids can also make you feel faint, which causes the intensity of your workouts to decrease. Lastly, most energy drinks contain electrolytes which can be lost during workouts. Filling up pre-workout with extra electrolytes will ensure those electrolytes lost through a strenuous sweat will not affect you. Drink up!
Energizing Snacks
Keeping healthy and organic snacks on you is not only a wise way to curb hunger, but it’s also a great item to include in your pre-workout routine. Eating carb-carrying foods, such as Organic peeled snacks or a Picky Bars nut bar, can assist in bettering your burn and keeping your energy sustained. Putting nature’s own nutrients in your body is not only great at the gym, but it’s good for your everyday health habits, too!
Energy Supplements
If you know you’re not ingesting the proper ingredients to stay focused during your fitness routines, supplements are a great way to make sure you’re replacing what you’re not eating. Many of these supplements help ensure the energy you’re burning during your workouts doesn’t cause fatigue. While getting the proper nutrients from your food is the best option, supplements are a great way to make sure your body is constantly built for burning calories
With all these options, being ready for a workout no matter where you are is made simple and scrumptious. Whether you prefer carb-packed energy bars or electrolyte enhanced energy drinks -- or a combination of both! -- getting the nutrients needed for a healthy workout is right at your fingertips.