What should you eat before you exercise? This is an important question. You want something that is going to give you energy, but you also need something that your body can use efficiently. We mean that you need to eat something that the body can easily process. For example, you don’t want to eat a burger prior to your workout because: a) it isn’t good for your health; and b) the body cannot properly digest or process it.
Some athletes (endurance athletes in particular) need to eat while they work out. Exercising intensely for 90 minutes or longer burns through stored electrolytes and glycogen. To help maintain these levels, it becomes necessary to eat foods or drink beverages that are high in easily digestible nutrients. These foods are also beneficial to eat prior to exercising. Eat the following foods about 30 minutes before your workout to stock up on natural carbs and electrolytes.
Figs
These are almost too easy to eat because they are so delicious. Offering a multitude of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, B-vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, dried figs help to strengthen bones and improve digestion. They also work to reduce your risk of hypertension and vision loss. Make sure to buy them unsulfured and without added sugars if you are eating dried figs.
Apples & Nut Butter
Apples are beneficial to eat before working out because they give you a little energy boost. Enhance this snack by dipping the apple slices in raw nut butter. This will give you a protein boost that your body can easily absorb.
Bananas
Because bananas are loaded with potassium, they help to prevent muscle cramps, which is only one reason why you should eat them before exercising. Plus, you lose potassium when you sweat and these levels need to be full. Bananas also help to improve kidney disorders and they can aid in getting rid of water weight.
Homemade Energy Bars
We recommend making your own energy bars or bites because you know exactly what goes in them. A lot of mainstream protein/energy bars contain chemicals or processed ingredients. You can use unsweetened dried fruit (free of sulfur) and raw nuts & seeds to make some pretty delicious bars that fuel your workouts. Try these ones!
Dates
You can actually use dried dates in those energy bites we just mentioned! They are great to eat before exercising because they contain vitamin K, potassium, manganese, copper, iron, and magnesium, in addition to B-vitamins. These can increase bone strength, maintain healthy weight, and help you decrease allergic reactions.
Oats With Fruit, Nuts, or Seeds
Oats are filled with complex carbs that give you long-lasting energy. By adding fresh fruit, raw nuts, or seeds, you give yourself extra fiber, protein, and other beneficial nutrients that your body can use for energy.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
