Friday
Apr242009
Fri, April 24, 2009 | Lisa Barger Best Meal Before A Workout
“What’s the best thing to eat if you’re going to work out? I’ve heard both sides.”
Right now, science says that the best meal to eat is one made up of low-gylcemic foods. In other words, avoid things like bagels, sweetened cereals and bread.
In fact, a new study coming out in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Nutrition finds that you can actually double the amount of fat your body burns by avoiding foods that “spike” your blood sugar and sticking to foods that cause much slower rises in blood glucose levels.
The theory is that when you eat a high-glycemic food, like a bagel, you have a lot of extra sugar running through your system. Your body doesn’t need to tap into its fat stores because it’s got all the energy it needs already.
But by sticking to a low-glycemic meal, you force your body to dip into its stored fat for the energy it needs. In this particular study, the amount of fat burned was 7.4 grams vs. 3.7.
And it may also be better to eat a low-glycemic meal after exercise, too. Researchers haven’t studied this as extensively but it makes sense, doesn’t it?
Readers, do you think what you eat has made a difference in the amount of fat you burn during exercise?
References:
Stevenson, E., et al. (2009). Fat Oxidation during Exercise and Satiety during Recovery Are Increased following a Low-Glycemic Index Breakfast in Sedentary Women. Journal of Nutrition.
Right now, science says that the best meal to eat is one made up of low-gylcemic foods. In other words, avoid things like bagels, sweetened cereals and bread.
In fact, a new study coming out in the May 2009 issue of The Journal of Nutrition finds that you can actually double the amount of fat your body burns by avoiding foods that “spike” your blood sugar and sticking to foods that cause much slower rises in blood glucose levels.
The theory is that when you eat a high-glycemic food, like a bagel, you have a lot of extra sugar running through your system. Your body doesn’t need to tap into its fat stores because it’s got all the energy it needs already.
But by sticking to a low-glycemic meal, you force your body to dip into its stored fat for the energy it needs. In this particular study, the amount of fat burned was 7.4 grams vs. 3.7.
And it may also be better to eat a low-glycemic meal after exercise, too. Researchers haven’t studied this as extensively but it makes sense, doesn’t it?
Readers, do you think what you eat has made a difference in the amount of fat you burn during exercise?
References:
Stevenson, E., et al. (2009). Fat Oxidation during Exercise and Satiety during Recovery Are Increased following a Low-Glycemic Index Breakfast in Sedentary Women. Journal of Nutrition.
This is "retired" article left in place for archival purposes. It may not reflect current thinking or research on the topic.
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