The best pair you could have for your workouts is a nutritious meal to match it with! It’s not always about how much you sweat in the gym, how long you spend working out, or how intense your exercise routines are. Although those factors could pose an effect on your possible results, food intake is something that you should also prioritize.
The meals you eat before and after your workout are essential as they contribute to the possible results you may attain. Eating the right foods could be a great advantage in boosting you toward your desired target body goals. With this being said, below are some food you could easily follow to make your workout more effective.
Chicken Breast
If your main goal in working is to build and tone your muscles, don’t forget to eat chicken breast. Chicken breasts have a high protein content, which is essential in muscle building. Also, many weightlifters see this as a go-to food to form lean muscle mass. Thus, some even consume it daily.
Additionally, when eating chicken, make sure you consume the breast part. Although each part of the chicken could benefit you in many ways, opting for the breast part is the best because it’s low in fat. The less fat in the chicken, the more protein it has.
Other than protein, it’s also a great source of creatine. Creatine is a famous substance among many athletes because it helps a person gain muscles and enhance muscle strength. Typically, it is found in various foods like red meat and seafood.
Fortunately, chicken is one of those. But, if you don’t have enough time to find natural food sources of creatine near your area, try the most effective creatine to build more muscle. Nowadays, you can get the nutritional benefits of creatine through supplements that are widely available on the market.
Tuna
Tunas are good as a post-workout meal. Like chicken breasts, tunas are a great source of protein and other important nutrients, like Vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy body.
If you opt to eat tuna after every workout, it wouldn’t be such a hassle since you can carry a can of tuna easily and pair it with your favorite crackers. Also, you could try using it as stuffing for your bread and make a sandwich. In selecting canned tuna, the best option would be the light ones for better muscle growth and low-mercury content.
Tofu
Tofu is one of the widely popular plant-based foods that can be added to various dishes and recipes. It’s a great option for many athletes and gym rats on a vegetarian diet because it’s made out of soybeans. Additionally, it contains a lot of potassium which is good for ensuring the proper functioning of muscles, and protein which could help muscle growth and help a person gain better stamina, especially during workout sessions.
Additionally, there are many tofu recipes that you will surely love! For people with strict meal diets, you could add it to your salads and a dressing of your choice to improve the taste. Some use it as a stuffing for shawarma wraps, while others consume it with a pair of brown rice to make it healthier.
Eggs
Pre or even post-workout, eggs are the perfect food for a more effective workout session in the gym, especially for those who want on-the-go food. There are many ways how you could consume an egg depending on your preferences, but if you’re in a rush, you’ll never go wrong with the traditional hard-boiled eggs.
Eggs are a great source of essential amino acids, which are beneficial in three ways, specifically through growing, repairing, and maintaining muscle mass. In this sense, if you have plans on working out, it’s enough that you consume a maximum of three eggs during breakfast. But, the amount of egg you will eat will also alter depending on your underlying medical conditions, which you should consult first with your doctor.
Sweet Potato
After a high-intensity workout, try eating some sweet potatoes as a post-workout meal. Sweet potatoes contain different nutritional content like copper, which is excellent for maintaining healthy muscle tissue and helping a person recharge the energy they’ve used.
Additionally, it contains carbohydrates, which are essential for every fitness fanatic after intense physical activity. As you spend time working out, it’s normal that you’ll be exhausted with all the energy you’ve used. In this sense, there’s a high need for you to consume foods containing carbohydrates because carbs could help in muscle recovery.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, multiple food recipes are designed for gym rats. But, for some, it tends to be hard to follow because of various factors such as affordability, lack of supply in their area, budget, and more. But don’t worry, as there are other easy go-to foods you can always count on for a more effective workout. Refer to the guide mentioned above to help you.
