Table of contents:
- Foods that are poorly eaten before exercise
- 1. Salad
- 2. Unripe bananas
- 3. Foods high in fat
- 4. Fruit juice
- 5. Energy drinks
There is nothing wrong if you want to eat food before exercising. Replenishing energy before exercise is very good to do. However, if you really know the right way to take care of your body, you will definitely avoid certain foods before heading to the gym. Food junk food as french fries, burgers, sodas, and others are definitely bad foods to start your workout with. But, did you know that some other foods that you think are healthy, will actually become deadly weapons for you? To find out more, let's take a look at the following foods that are badly consumed before exercising!
Foods that are poorly eaten before exercise
1. Salad
Salad should be good to eat all the time, right? Not really, but it's not really bad food. If you eat your salad in the right way (for example, more vegetables than cream sauce and croutons) then you can escape the discomfort of exercising. "Salad is very healthy, but it's not the best choice before a workout," says Erica Giovinazzo, a nutritionist and trainer at Brick CrossFit New York. "All vegetables that are high in fiber can slow down digestion. This can result in flatulence and gas during exercise. "
For the same reason, crudité (a fancy name for an appetizer plate of vegetables) is also a bad food to eat before exercise, according to Mary Hartley, a nutritionist. Vegetables that are nutritious, such as cauliflower, broccoli, and bell peppers that are high in carbohydrates will cause a feeling of discomfort in your stomach if you exercise right after. For your health while exercising, you can eat this salad a few hours before exercising or after.
2. Unripe bananas
Bananas are often the snack food that many people always choose before setting foot in the gym, because of the potassium and carbohydrate content they contain. However, if you plan to eat one before your workout, make sure it's a ripe, yellow banana, and doesn't look like it was picked from the tree. The reason is because unripe green bananas have a high starch content, making them difficult to digest.
Hartley says that bananas that are still not ripe can cause bloating. On the other hand, a ripe banana (perhaps with a few brown spots on the peel) is the best choice. This is because the ripening process has been converted from starch to sugar which is more easily absorbed and used by your body as exercise fuel.
3. Foods high in fat
You should avoid foods that are high in fat such as burgers, cheesecake, etc. However, healthy foods that are high in healthy fats will also reduce exercise performance, such as cheese, almonds and avocados. Fat turns to energy at a much slower rate than carbohydrates and protein, making it difficult to use energy for exercise. Even though avocado is known as a weight loss agent, the added fiber in it also contributes high to making flatulence and full of gas.
4. Fruit juice
Fruit concentrated juices are a bad food to consume before exercise, because of the high sugar levels in them. However, fresh squeezed orange juice will likely leave you feeling tired after two sessions of exercise. This is because fruit juice has lots of natural sugars, but has almost zero fiber to help absorb energy. Riska Platt, a nutritionist, states that you are better off eating apples before exercise. However, orange juice can also be a great post workout addition to ensure you are hydrated enough.
5. Energy drinks
Most energy drinks, which are carbonated and full of sugar (or artificial sweeteners), can cause gas, bloating, and fatigue. Not that they are a bad food for you, but they are not good at keeping you hydrated, which is the key to exercising. Caffeine, green tea or black tea can help if you need a pre-workout boost.
