Feed your body right - Nutrient Timing
The Glycemic Index is a numerical system measuring how quickly the food's carbohydrate triggers a rise in the bodies blood sugar levels. A low GI food creates a small rise and a high GI food a much more dramatic spike. Dr. Len Kravitz suggests after study upon study of athletes and participants in his studies at the University of Arizona that certain foods (according to their rank on the index) and best either both or after a workout and that this differs if you are doing cardio for fat loss or strength training for muscle building.The body reacts differently to strength training versus cardiovascular exercise. Nutrient timing is all about delivering the right nutrient mixture at the right time to enhance recovery from exercise, aid fat burning, improve muscle growth, strength and power. Our bodies release numerous hormones during exercise to provide energy and attempt to bring the body into chemical balance or homeostasis. With this understanding we can help lead the body to balance in a way we desire -we can change our shape!
Again, I am happy to get into more scientific detain if your interested - but, for now, let's keep it simple. Here are some ideas for pre- workout eating using the GI index.
To help the body use/burn more fat consume LOW GI foods (30-60 mins) BEFORE CARDIO exercise
To help the body recover and build muscle consume HIGH GI foods (30-60mins) BEFORE STRENGTH training
Here is a link to a good list of low, medium and high GI foods. http://www.nutricoach.net/low_gi_foods.html
Stay tuned to find out what to eat AFTER a great workout as this may be the most important phase of nutrient timing.
Off to make dinner:)
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