Foods to Avoid Before Your Workout : Exercising can be immensely satisfying for the body, but eating certain foods prior to exercising can be detrimental. Certain food may lead to energy slumps, stomachaches and digestive issues – which could inhibit your workout! To maximize fitness results from each workout session it’s essential that you know which foods you should avoid pre-exercise – here are 10 items you should avoid as an aid towards reaching fitness goals!
1. Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners should be avoided prior to beginning any physical activity, especially for workouts that involve cardiovascular exercises such as running. While artificial sweeteners contain no calories, they can still lead to an energy crash by increasing insulin production in your body and then leading to an insulin spike, followed by an energy crash shortly thereafter – leading to fatigue or hindering performance during workouts. Furthermore, artificial sweeteners can cause dehydration which could impede performance levels – so to make sure you get the most from each gym session, avoid artificial sweeteners before heading off into any workout.
2. Dairy Product
While having a balanced diet is integral to any successful workout routine, it’s also crucial that one understands which foods to avoid prior to working out. Dairy Products should be on this list: milk, yogurt, cheese and cream can take too long for digestion, leading to uncomfortable cramping during a workout session and possibly hindering its effectiveness altogether – therefore avoiding these products prior to going to the gym would be best advised.
3. Heavy Carbs
Carbs are essential to energy and performance, but too many carbs before exercise could leave you vulnerable to crashing. Consuming more than five grams per kilogram of body weight before working out will cause your blood sugar levels to spike causing you to stop before finishing. Incorporating moderate carb consumption before workouts (around one or 1.5 grams/kilogram of bodyweight) is optimal and will allow you to perform at your best – for optimal performance eat one to 1.5 grams per kg bodyweight before every session.
For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should eat 150 to 225 grams of carbs before each workout. When selecting carbs high in fibre for pre-workout consumption, choose whole grains, beans and veggies like broccoli cauliflower and carrots as these will help regulate your blood sugars without experiencing spikes and crashes in blood sugar.
4. Carbonated Beverages
Carbonated Beverages Carbonated beverages such as soda and sparkling water offer no nutritional benefit and may even harm your body. Carbonation may cause bloating, gastric reflux and cramps while carbonation in sparkling water causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate quickly leading to energy crashes and dizziness.
Sparkling water can be made even healthier if you add citrus fruits such as lemon or lime to it, since citrus fruits contain limonine which has been scientifically shown to slow the body’s rate of breaking down sugars. When choosing what beverage to have before exercise, water or unsweetened tea are generally preferred over sports drinks which contain electrolytes that could prevent dehydration.
5. Too Much Caffeine
Caffeine can provide an energetic boost before workouts, but too much may be harmful. Consuming over 500 milligrams before working out could result in restlessness, nervousness and irritability; for those sensitive to caffeine even half that amount may have negative side effects. If you plan to continue drinking it prior to working out make sure not to exceed the recommended daily dosage of 400 milligrams daily.
If you’re starting a caffeine habit for the first time, it may be beneficial to forgo it prior to workouts. Tea and coffee may be preferable over energy drinks that contain lots of added sugars; alternatively, pre-workout supplements often come without caffeine content.
6. Bananas
Bananas While bananas can make for an easy pre-workout snack for people with sensitive stomachs, they may not provide your muscles with all of the nutrition they require for peak performance. Full of carbohydrates and easily digested, bananas lack many essential minerals necessary for optimal muscle performance. If you do decide to enjoy one before your workout session, eat it as soon as you remove it from the fridge as the cold temperature will inhibit its digestion process.
Consider trying this trick: consume 1/2 of a banana before your workout and save the other 1/2 for after. By doing this, your body has enough time to process and digest the carbohydrates while providing energy during your workout session.
7. Beans
When looking for an easily digestible protein-packed snack before exercising, beans can make an ideal pre-workout option. But be wary if your pre-workout meal contains too many beans; they may leave you feeling bloated and crampy. Optimal pre-workout meals contain protein, fibre, and vegetables; beans contain only protein and fibre; alone they may make you feel lethargic due to taking longer to break down than other types of protein; combine beans with vegetables and whole grains for an energising meal that provides completeness before embarking upon any vigorous physical endeavor!
8. Avocados
Avocados have long been recognized for their nutritional properties and they remain one of the top picks when it comes to choosing avocados as part of their fruit basket.
Avocados are an incredible superfood packed with healthy fats and fibre, making them the ideal pre-workout snack. Easy to digest, avocados won’t leave you bloated or crampy after indulging. Their high protein content also keeps you full during workouts – try adding them to salads or making quick sandwiches using 1/2 an avocado as extra protection from post workout bloat! Be sure to save half the avocado for post workout consumption too if bloating becomes an issue!
9. Salad
Salads are simple to prepare and can quickly digest. Packed with protein, fibre and veggies, salad can give your body the energy it needs for hours. Salad is an ideal pre-workout food but be wary of salads with heavy dressings which could weigh you down before your workout begins – consider switching it up by adding raw vegetables into a protein shake instead. These 10 foods to avoid before working out will ensure optimal performance while reaching fitness goals faster!
Make sure you’re eating enough carbs, protein and fibre to support a high metabolic rate and avoid cramps. Healthy fats like avocado or nuts should also be included for maximum performance and fitness goals achievement. By adhering to these tips you can ensure your body is prepared to perform at its peak level during any physical activity or workout session.
10. Cauliflower
Cauliflower should be avoided before exercising, as it contains high fiber levels that could create digestive issues during physical activity. Furthermore, cauliflower contains FODMAPs that make digestion difficult when combined with physical exertion, leading to uncomfortable gassiness during your workout session. Incorporating cauliflower into your workout may result in uncomfortable bloating or gas formation during physical exertion – something cauliflower’s high fiber levels make more likely.
Cauliflower contains high concentrations of complex carbs that may prove challenging for your body to process during a workout session, leading to digestive discomfort and diminishing performance levels. Therefore, cauliflower should be avoided before participating in physical activity in order to ensure optimal performance and avoid digestive discomfort.
Also Read: 10 Calcium-Rich Foods To Add To Your Diet For Stronger Bones