Foods for the physically active
It is especially important that, in addition to a variety of lean protein foods, fruits and vegetables, adequate amounts of carbohydrate foods are eaten to fuel the working muscles and replace carbohydrate energy stores used up during each exercise session. Failing to do so is the equivalent of trying to run a car on lower and lower levels of petrol. You will keep going for a while but eventually feel unable to keep going. Here are five top tips for getting your carbohydrates right.
Try to eat 5g of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight each day. For a 70kg man this means having at least 350g of carbohydrate a day and for a 55kg woman, 275g.
To reach these figures have some carbohydrate foods at each meal. Try bread and bread products, pasta, breakfast cereals, rice, potatoes, beans, root vegetables, fruits and crispbreads. Sweets, fizzy drinks, dried fruit and chocolate can be convenient and practical foods in the exercising diet, and are a less bulky source of fuel to boost carbohydrate intakes.
Ideally eat a meal containing carbohydrate 2 - 4 hours prior to exercise and a small snack such as a banana about an hour before.
Try to eat around 50g of carbohydrate within 2 hours of finishing exercise. This helps to refuel the muscles and should include some quickly absorbed foods such as digestive biscuits, chocolate bars, bananas, cornflakes, buns, sultanas, raisins or a glass of sports drink.
As well as thinking about carbohydrate, remember that you need lean sources of protein such as chicken, meat, fish, dairy foods and pulses to help maintain the body, and some fat. Try to regularly include some oily fish, olive oil and nuts and seeds that supply essential fats for smooth functioning of the body. CONTINUES..........www.eufic.org
Alimente pentru fizic activ - Foods for the physically active - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate