How can we make sure we eat quality foods ahead of working out so we have both enough energy to exercise as well as maximize the benefits of our hard work in the gym?
You’re in luck because we’re about to go through a list of 10 options. Now make sure to allow for adequate digestion time before you go to the gym. Some people can eat and then work out right afterwards, but most people prefer a little more time to let their food settle.
Alright, without further ado, let’s dig into 10 foods that can supercharge your workout.
For exercise, carbs are king. While there is a modern day fear of carbs due to many fad diets, carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for intense training.
Carbohydrates provide glycogen, a key source of energy during activity. Glycogen is used for short intense exercise.
Without sufficient carbohydrates, you run out of glucose and glycogen stores and end up “hitting the wall”.
Whole grains are an excellent source of carbs.
2. Salmon
Salmon is packed with high quality protein, which, while generally not used as energy during your workout, helps support and repair muscle growth.
As I mentioned before, the main source of energy during exercise is carbohydrates, but you’ll need proteins to help repair and grow tissue that has been broken down during the workout. So it helps to consume protein both before and after exercise to ensure adequate consumption over time.
3. Bananas
A study done at Appalachian State University compared the effects of eating bananas vs. pre-workout drinks during a 75 kilometer cycling performance. Bananas matched the performance of pre-workout drinks.
If you’re looking for a healthy, cheap, tasty pre-workout treat that will give you loads of energy while also providing fiber, potassium, and vitamins – bananas are the way to go.
One of my favorite attributes of bananas is that they are very easy to blend into a smoothie. A simple orange juice plus banana smoothie tastes great and only takes seconds to make.
4. Hemp Seeds
I know what you’re thinking, but despite hemp protein being related to cannabis, it doesn’t contain THC like marijuana. Hemp seeds have been recently gaining more popularity.
Unlike many plant-based foods, hemp seeds contain a complete amino acid profile. Usually you would have to consume animal-based foods to get complete proteins. And unlike animal-based foods, hemp seeds are very low in fat. Not to mention having zero cholesterol and saturated fat, something meats can’t boast.
Hemp seeds are full of nutrients such as iron, magnesium, and zinc, as well as packed with fiber and omega-3s.
5. Oats
I mentioned oats in my previous post on time saving breakfast ideas. Oatmeal is digested slowly and provides sustained energy over a longer period of time than refined carbohydrates.
If you’re concerned about the time issue, a simple fix here would be to simply prepare overnight oats to save you time in the morning!
What’s your take on foods for better workouts? Have anything else you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments below!
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Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99.
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We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
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Some popular pre-workouts are all-natural. Some contain the right mix of high-quality ingredients. Some provide clinically effective doses. But only Pulse checks each of these boxes.
Pulse doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients''—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. Pulse contains no artificial or synthetic substances of any kind.
Every serving of Pulse contains 15.1 grams of active ingredients that have been shown to be safe and effective in peer-reviewed scientific research.
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We carefully examined 508 pages of scientific research to find out exactly what should and shouldn’t be in a pre-workout supplement.
Every bottle of Pulse is guaranteed to provide exactly what the label claims and nothing else—no heavy metals, microbes, allergens, or other contaminants.
While these types of chemicals may not be as dangerous as some people claim, studies suggest that regular consumption of them may indeed be harmful to our health. And that’s why we don’t put any of them into our products.
Before you buy a sports supplement, you should know that it's clean, safe, and transparent. And that's exactly what Labdoor's third-party testing and certification means.
It's hard to know for sure, but this probably makes Pulse the most-popular all-natural pre-workout supplement in the world.
If you don’t absolutely love this product, just let us know, and we’ll give you a full refund on the spot. No forms or return necessary.
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Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab by Labdoor™, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.
Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.
This product doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients”—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. This product contains no artificial or synthetic sweeteners or flavors of any kind.
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