You already have a good diet and you are working out to stay fit for life, but have you ever thought about how some of your healthy foods actually aren’t the best options to have before you work out? This does not mean they are bad foods, it just means that your body cannot use these foods as quick fuel to fuel you through your workout.
Here are five foods you should avoid eating at least two hours before you exercise –
Flaxseeds or Beans
Flaxseeds are great to keep in your diet, but definitely not great to eat before a workout. With flaxseeds, it all comes down to the fiber they have in them. Again, great for your body but before a workout, it could lead to some very embarrassing issues. Fiber can lead to gas and bloating. I bet the last thing you want to deal with while working out is a huge cramp due to gas or accidentally letting one rip in the middle of a workout. High-fiber foods, like veggies and fruits too, tend to slow down the digestion process and are better to eat at different times of the day when you won’t be working out soon after.
Dairy
Dairy is a food item that can make you very sleepy and sluggish. You should avoid eating or drinking dairy two hours before a workout because it can make your body acidic and leave you feeling lethargic. Some people even tend to get extreme burping side effects from it. You wouldn’t want that to accidentally lead to something else coming up too.
Protein Bars
We get it, protein bars can be an easy quick snack, however, a lot of protein bars end up being more sugar bombs that protein sources. Those that are sugar bombs you want to stay away from all together, but if you are really only within reach of a protein bar than find one that is at least a 1:1 ratio of protein to sugar so that your body will at least get something out of it for fuel for your workout.
Fatty Foods
It may be obvious to avoid a big greasy cheeseburger before a workout, but you should also avoid healthy fat sources like avocados and nuts before a workout too. The problem with fatty foods before a workout is that they take longer to break down so your body cannot use them for fuel as quickly as the body would like during a workout. They also usually contain fiber too, which we already discussed how bad (or embarrassing) that can end up.
Carbonated Drinks
Sure, even La Croix is better for you than a soda, but when it comes to drinks (even the healthy kind) anything with carbonation should be avoided before a workout. You want to keep your stomach free of extra air because this extra air will probably want to make its way out somehow. Flatwater is the best to hydrate your body before a workout or you can even give our pre-workout, POW a try for a boost of energy as it isn’t carbonated either.
What is your favorite food to eat before a workout?
