Top Macronutrients For The Best Pre-Workout Nutrition
Pre-workout nutrition is paramount for every athlete. That’s why you need to add these top macronutrients to your meals right now!
As a fitness enthusiast, you are constantly looking for ways to improve your performance and achieve your goals.
For your body to recover faster and perform better after every workout, you need good nutrition.
Additionally, you can reduce muscle damage while maximizing your performance with optimal nutrient intake before exercising.
Although each macronutrient plays a specific role before an exercise, the amount consumed differs by the type of exercise and body type.
Top Macronutrients For Proper Nutrition
The following are some of the top macronutrients and their roles in performance and fitness:
1. Carbs
Carbohydrates are not only the preferred source of energy for your brain but also the body’s most accessible and quickest source of energy.
Since high-level output depends on more anaerobic pathways, you will find it challenging to engage in intense lifting, and cardio exercises when you are deficient in carbs.
Several metabolic pathways crucial in the digestion, absorption, and utilization of nutrients rely on oxygen.
However, glucose enables you to access energy faster since it can be harnessed without oxygen.
Carbs are crucial for anaerobic training since they are used for immediate energy or stored in the liver or muscles as glycogen.
There are two types of carbs:
- Slow carbs – are a source of long-lasting energy since they are slower to digest. Examples include potatoes, beans, pasta. And whole grains.
- Quick carbs – provide immediate energy since they are rapidly digested simple sugars. Examples are honey, gels, juice, and sports drinks.
Although less efficient in high-intensity training than carbs, your body can get glucose from protein and ketones.
2. Pre-Workout Supplements
Most people opt for pre-game pre-workout supplements to increase their output during training. Although they may boost perceived stamina, mental focus, and energy, they do not provide any fuel to your body.
If you turn to supplements, you will be hard-pressed to find a trusted option since they are regulated differently than food.
Besides third-party certifications, you should consider products with ingredients you recognize and are clearly listed.
Conduct independent research to find out the advantages of different powders and mixes.
3. Fats
Fat is a significant source of calories vital for training. You can work half as hard for the fuel since it provides double the calories per gram as protein and carbs.
Also, fats give you an almost endless supply of energy since your body can store more fat reserves than carbohydrates limited by liver and muscle capacity.
High-intensity workouts such as jogging and swimming can be powered by fat provided there is adequate oxygen consumption. However, you should understand that it cannot sustain this kind of exercise by itself.
Additionally, just like slow carbs, fat needs some time to digest and be ready for fuel. Therefore most of the fat used during exercises comes from reserves rather than dietary fat.
4. Protein
Compared to carbohydrates and fats, protein is a less desirable energy source for workouts. The role it plays in your overall health is given more priority than providing fuel.
Protein is crucial in the construction and maintenance of all the cells in your body, including your muscle cells.
You can help protect lean mass and power your strength training better by adding some protein to your pre-workout diet.
The Takeaway
Your level of training, individual needs, and overall eating habits play a crucial role when optimizing your pre-workout nutrition. Finding out what works best for you can take a while to find out.
Similarly, some people prefer training on an empty stomach. It is always best to experiment with various options to determine what works well with your body.
You can also seek professional help from nutrition experts.
