Health News & Tips

You’ve probably heard it again and again already: Your post workout meal is crucial. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s by far the most important meal of the day. Why is the post workout meal so important and what should you eat right after you work out? Read on to find out.

Why the Post Workout Meal is So Critical

Your muscles are not built during your workout. They’re actually built after your workout, when your body repairs the micro-tears you created during your workout.

During this period, your body needs energy, nutrients and proteins to construct new muscles.

It’s important that during this time your body has everything it needs to build the new muscles you want it to build. That’s why your post-workout nutrition makes such a big impact.

What Should You Eat Right After a Workout?

There are two things to keep in mind when you’re looking at what foods to eat after a workout.

First of all, you want foods that your body can take in and process quickly. Second, you want to give your body both proteins and carbs (yes, carbs! More on this later.)

What Kind of Proteins?

As a health conscious person, there’s a wide array of options for your protein options.

The reality is, there’s a time and place for every kind of protein. Meats or dairy are great sources of protein, but are not ideal for your post workout meal for one reason: They take a while to digest.

Take chicken for example. Chicken is a great source of protein, it’s a whole food, it’s lower in fat than most other meats and is all around a great source of protein.

Only problem with eating chicken is it’ll take about an hour before the proteins and nutrients are available to your body, which is far too long for your post workout meal.

The best thing to eat after a workout is something that will be absorbed by your body immediately. That’s why I recommend a Whey protein shake 5 to 30 minutes after your workout. It’ll be absorbed by your body almost immediately and put to use right away.

What Kind of Carbs Should You Eat?

Carbs are also important for your post-workout nutrition. During workout your muscles burn glycogen, which has to be recovered in the hour after your workout.

If you don’t give your body the carbs it needs, it may start breaking down muscles instead of carbs. That’s something you don’t want.

Again, the best carbs to take into your body are those that can be digested quickly. A potato is a great source of carbs normally, but is not a good source of carbs after your workout.

One great source of carbs for your post-workout is dextrose. This is a low-fat, fast digesting carbohydrate that will revitalize your muscles quickly without adding much to your caloric intake.

Your post workout meal is critical to your success. Make sure you’re feeding your body what it needs 5 to 30 minutes after your workout. Make sure you’re taking in nutrients that can be digested quickly and you’ll see your results skyrocket quickly.