Superfoods for Superfuel

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 350
Word Count: 375

Wednesday, July 2nd

Are you looking for the best foods to fuel your workouts? You may be surprised to hear that chocolate milk, yogurt and honey should be on the top of your energy boosting list!

According to author Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H., yogurt could help you gain the extra edge you need for your workouts. I recently reported on yogurt's benefit to the body in terms of heart disease prevention and now there is even more good news! The probiotics contained in yogurt not only help to fight infections in the mouth, but they also boost the body's immune system. The results of a study performed on 20 endurance athletes appeared in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2008 found improved T cell function and decreased time of respiratory tract infections thanks to probiotics. Apparently probiotics can even help to sooth a queasy stomach. Unfortunately, you would have to eat massive amounts of yogurt to achieve the benefits that study participants experienced, but yogurt is still a healthy pre or post workout snack.

Although the dairy industry partially funded a study that found chocolate milk to be as effective as a sports drink for refueling, I think there is validity in the study findings. The study was done in 2006 on nine cyclists that rode to exhaustion, rested for four hours, then rode again. During the rest period, the cyclists drank either chocolate milk, Gatorade or Endurox (a carbohydrate-replacement drink). Those consuming the chocolate milk (a good mix of carbohydrate and protein) were able to ride about 50% longer during the second ride as compared to those who drank either Gatorade or Endurox. If you are looking for fuel before or during your workouts, stick with Gatorade. After your workouts, a cold glass of regular or chocolate milk may be all you need to refuel!

Amy Paturel also reports that eating foods combining glucose and fructose may be better than consuming glucose only foods during endurance events. Honey is one food that has an equal combination of both glucose and fructose and it also has some antioxidants and vitamins. Remember, the darker the honey, the more antioxidants. This might not be the most convenient thing to consume during your workouts, but it is worth a try!

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