What to Eat Before Working Out

If you are looking to get the most out of your workout, then it is important to eat the right kinds of food beforehand. Although you may not be willing to pack in calories before the session, there are a number of foods you can eat to fuel your workout. Apart from helping you maximize your efforts, these foods can also prevent low blood sugar, fatigue and lightheadedness during the workout. Here is a list of foods you must consider eating before working out.

Bananas

Bananas contain fast acting carbohydrates which can actually provide useable energy during a workout session. Bananas also contain potassium which can help in the proper functioning of muscles and nerves. Bananas are the perfect pre-workout snack for all those who workout first thing in the morning. Those who tend to skip breakfast before their workout can benefit greatly by having a banana at least 30 minutes prior to working out.

Chickpeas

Another easy pre-workout snack is chickpeas. Chickpeas contain carbs, fiber and protein that are essential for fuelling your workout. Before the session, eat at least ¼ cup of chickpeas to give you 9 grams of fiber, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 10 grams of protein. Read more

8 Healthy Foods That Could Ruin Your Diet

When you are on a weight loss plan, one of the most important things that you must do is to eliminate junk foods. You may want to think again even if you think you are eating healthy. There are some foods that pretend to be healthier than they actually are. These nutritionally value foods are surprisingly high in calories and fat. Here’s a look at 8 healthy foods that could ruin your diet.

1. Smoothies

Smoothies are a cool treat, but not all of them are made equal. In fact, you can’t always know what you are consuming when you don’t make it yourself. Smoothies can be a costly diet mistake and if you consider store bought options, then you must know that these contain ice cream, flavored syrups and even milk that has high fat content.

2. Granola Bars

Most people believe that granola bars are a convenient way of getting protein and fiber, but they don’t realize that these bars are often packed with fructose corn syrup, saturated fat and added sugar. Not only they do have higher calorie content, but they are also not good for the hearts health. Read more

10 Non-Dairy Foods Highest in Calcium

Calcium is one of the essential nutrients needed by the body. It is needed by almost every cell in the body in one way or the other. It is required for the health of your teeth and bones. However, it also affects your nerve function, muscles, hormones and the ability to form blood clots. According to research, calcium may help with problems such as weight gain, high blood pressure and PMS.

Calcium is stored in the bones which provide support to the body. But, when we age, the ability to absorb calcium from the foods we eat decreases. This causes the body to take calcium from the bones and over time, the aging process leads to osteoporosis which is a kind of bone disease where the bones become brittle and weak.

Dairy products such as milk and cheese are considered as good sources of calcium. But, there are a number of nutritionists and health experts who suggest that you should not be entirely dependent on dairy products to get all the calcium your body needs. There are some nutritionists who are against the use of dairy in diet. In fact, some nutritionists and health experts have reported that consuming calcium from dairy products alone can reduce its absorption. An average adult needs about 1,100mg of calcium per day and according to recent studies, only about 30 percent of calcium is absorbed by the body when it comes only from dairy sources. Read more