7 FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT BEFORE WORKOUT

Even though a pre-workout meal is important to provide the necessary energy and achieve your fitness goals, there are some foods that you should try to avoid before your workout. Below are 7 foods to avoid before your workout and the reason they should be avoided.

#1. DAIRY PRODUCTS

Eating dairy products like milk or cheese before a workout can cause nausea, vomiting and cramping because they contain high amounts of fat that are digested slowly. It can bring down your energy levels and make you feel uncomfortable during workout. Small quantity of dairy 1-2 hours before exercise is fine.

#2. GREEN BANANAS

Most people choose to eat a banana before the workout because of their potassium content and because they’re a healthy source of carbohydrates. While bananas are a great pre-workout fuel, make sure you grab a ripe one with brown spots and not the green one. The reason is because unripe bananas have a high starch content, which is more difficult to digest, and it could cause uncomfortable gas and bloating.

#3. SALADS

A salad is healthy, but not the best choice before a workout. Leafy green vegetables are high in fiber and do not provide sufficient carbs for energy. Fiber slows down digestion, this could lead to stomach problems during workout.

#4. ENERGY DRINKS AND SODA

Most energy drinks and sodas are carbonated and full of sugar or artificial sweeteners that could hinder your workout. Both the carbonation and the high levels of sugar deplete the body of important nutrients, making you more fatigued and in many cases causing upset stomachs and bowel problems. These drinks are also not very good at keeping you hydrated, this can cut a workout short of its desired length.

#5. PROTEIN BARS

Ideally you should eat the protein after the workout to aid muscle recovery, not before. Protein Bars are often high in protein but low in carbohydrates, it’ll sit in the stomach for longer and won’t provide the fuel(i.e. carbs) you need to get through a workout.

#6. HARD-BOILED EGGS

Hard-boiled eggs are a great source of lean protein, but they don’t provide carbohydrates for energy. Plus, their protein stays in the stomach and takes a long time to digest, which could weigh you down at the gym. Hard-boiled eggs are great if eaten after a workout, but they’re not always the best food choice before a workout.

#7. HIGH-FAT SNACKS

Deep-fried fatty snacks takes longer to digest and can cause some serious stomach problems if eaten before a workout. This is because all your blood is flowing to your stomach to help with digestion, which means it’s moving away from your muscles when they need it most.