Sweat This Stuff

Everyday I encounter something new that catches my eye and want to try. Everything from a new snack, gadget, class at the gym or a new song… These are the things that keep me coming back for more. I Sweat …

A New Rear & Pop-notch Giveaway

In January I entered the popchips “New Year, New Rear” contest through Vital Juice. I usually never enter contests because I never win anything (my friend Lisa is the Lucky One). But for some reason, this one stuck with me. …

4 Foods to Boost Your Workout

As reported by Kerri-Ann for the Huffington Post. Kerri-Ann is a registered nutritionist and associate editor of nutrition for Eating Well Magazine.

 

Apples – Eating an apple is a great way to boost exercise endurance. Apples are a good source of an antioxidant called quercetin. One study showed that quercetin — when taken in supplement form — helped people bike longer. Quercetin aids endurance by making oxygen more available to the lungs. Grapes are another quercetin-rich fruit. As the saying goes, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.”

 

Milk – You don’t need a “sports drink” to refuel after a workout. Regular or chocolate milk — both of which contain a mix of carbohydrate and protein — may work just as well. Chocolate milk is my repair drink of choice. Who doesn’t love an excuse to drink chocolate milk?

Yogurt – Constant training takes a toll on your immune system, leaving athletes susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections, but new research suggests that probiotics — the live active cultures in yogurt — may help keep you healthy. Moreover, yogurt has a balanced mix of carbs and protein, so it’s a great post-workout recovery fuel. I love Chobani non-fat plain Greek yogurt. It’s thick and creamy. Sometimes I dust a little chocolate whey protein powder on it for the extra protein and it also curbs my dessert cravings.

Honey – Recent research suggests that carb blends (foods containing fructose and glucose) may be superior to straight glucose for boosting energy during endurance activities. Consider honey: like sugar, it naturally has equal parts fructose and glucose, but it also contains a handful of antioxidants and vitamins. There’s no doubt that honey has some great properties, but be sure to use it sparingly because it’s still a sugar.