Gearing up for a big workout coming your way? If so, it’s important that you make sure that your body has the right amount and type of fuel to promote optimal performance.
What you eat in the hour or two prior to your workout session can really influence how that session will progress.
Which carbs are best? First, note that you always want to get some carbs in before an intense exercise. The body can only use glucose as a fuel source during intense exercise training so forgoing carbs would be devastating to your performance.
Beyond that, here are three excellent pre-workout carbs that will have you feeling your best.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of carbs as they’re rich in starchy complex carbohydrates and contain just a little bit of sugar to help give you that immediate energy that you need.
They’re also rich in potassium, which is an important mineral that helps promote healthy muscular contractions.
Serve them with or without the skin at this point – your choice.
Bananas
Next, you have the banana. Bananas have been long known to be a great go-to for keeping your exercise performance up and for a good reason. This fruit contains a natural blend of complex carbohydrates coupled with simple sugars, which will provide immediate energy when you need it coupled with longer lasting energy that will help you power through that session towards the end.
Bananas are also a good source of potassium and contain virtually no sodium at all. Plus, they’re portion controlled and easy to grab and go. What more could you ask for?
White Rice
Finally, if you aren’t a fan of either of these, white rice can also be an excellent option for fueling up before your workout session. White rice doesn’t contain too much fiber, so it won’t weigh you down during exercise and while it does digest faster, it’s not going to spike blood glucose and cause a rapid crash either.
This makes it ideal for prior to exercise. Many people enjoy the taste of white rice more than brown rice as well, so satisfy that craving for this food at this point in the day.
Next time you’re gearing up for a big workout, consider these carb sources. 25-50 grams about an hour or two beforehand is perfect to keep you well fueled.
