Need To Knows About Carbohydrates in Sports & Fitness

Low energy? Lack of motivation? Low blood pressure? 

Most likely the lack of carbohydrates.
To help prevent you from experiencing that, here is a list of 5 ways to optimize the use of carbohydrates for your workouts.

1: Eat TWO carbohydrate packed meals before your workout.    

According to bodybuilding.com, carb filled foods such as oats or sweet potatoes should suffice in giving you the energy yo need for your workout. After consuming your first meal, the second meal should be consumed around an hour before your workout routine. It is usually recommended that one should consume 40 grams of carbohydrates prior to a workout. 

2: Eat more whole fruits and vegetables.                                             

Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and vitamins, and loaded with carbs, but also low in calories, making them a great alternative to high calorie carb foods 

like potatoes, pasta, sweets, etc. 

        3: Don't juice, just fruit!                                                                  

  Fruit juices can contain as much as twice the amount of sugar and half the amount of fiber compared to it's whole fruit form.Start chomping those apples! 

            

4: Drink some coconut water.                                                           

Instead of sipping on that sugar filled energy drink, soda, or coffee, grab yourself a can of coconut water instead! Professional tennis player John Isner relied on coconut water to help fuel his body for his 11 hour tennis match, which kept him well hydrated and energized throughout the entire match. 

5: *Sniff Sniff* "Did someone eat beans earlier?"                      

  That's right, beans. Now, I already can sense the aggression of some of you rice eaters out there. However, before you get too angry, beans contain 35 grams of carbs more than rice per a 100 gram serving.