When it comes to training for your next Ragnar, food is essential. High-quality fuel is essential to a runner's ability to perform at their best. While the wrong foods can set you back or even cause injury, the right ones can help muscle growth and repair. Eliminate these 12 foods from your diet to improve your performance:
- Soda that has been reduced to its bare essentials. Aspartame, cyclamate, and acesulfame-k are used as artificial sweeteners in diet soda. Sugar cravings, dehydration, and weight gain have been linked to the caramel-colored bubbly.
- Cookies and chocolates. All we can think about while racing is "EATING ALL THE CANDY." We've all been there. Learning to enjoy cookies and candy in moderation is the most important part of staying healthy. If you're in the mood for a Snickers bar, try a more nutrient-dense carb or protein alternative instead.
- Dairy products containing all of their natural fats. Full-fat dairy may not be necessary unless you are a runner who needs to gain weight. Though you may not need to completely avoid all full-fat dairy products, it is likely that the type you consume will have an impact on your health. Consider having a bowl of plain, full-fat yogurt with fresh berries instead of ice cream.
- Trans and saturated fat. Hydrogenated oils and trans fats are known to raise LDL cholesterol (the "bad cholesterol"), which in turn raises the risk for heart disease and other diseases of the arteries. If you're running, you'll want to eat foods high in HDL cholesterol (the "good" kind), like avocados and nuts and seeds, as well as olive oil and seafood.
- Alcohol. You don't have to completely cut out alcohol, but you don't want to overdo it either. Dehydration, slower reaction times, and decreased performance are all possible side effects of this practice. Because of its water content, beer is a better choice than hard liquor. Pre-race carbohydrate loading is more important than pre-race beer loading, however.
- Foods that have been deep-fried. Avoid fried foods before your next workout, no matter how delicious they may be. They contain a lot of calories and take a long time to digest, which can cause digestive problems.
- Drinks that contain caffeine. Research shows that moderate amounts of caffeine can improve performance, but stick to low or moderate doses as caffeine can dehydrate and be difficult for the stomach.
- High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) (HFCS). Commercial baked goods, soda, tomato sauce, and salad dressings all contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). When you're in the mood for something sweet, reach for a piece of fruit!
- Cereal with a lot of sugar.
- Colorful cereals may be appealing, but the sugar they contain makes them unhealthy. Preparing your body for more fat storage is a result of this. Make sure the cereal you choose contains no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving and at least three grams of fiber.