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Just as runners need to eat healthy and stay well hydrated, they should also properly fuel their bodies to make sure they can reach their full potential and continue to improve their distance and time.
Here is a list of foods that are beneficial for runners because they will fuel the body in the specific way a runner need. These foods will also help improve a runner’s performance and recovery time.
Foods for Runners:
Sweet Potatoes: This is a great food for runners because of the high amount of the antioxidant, beta carotene. Sweet potatoes are also full of crucial minerals, like magnesium and potassium. According to Health Magazine, these minerals are important to conserve because runners lose a significant amount of them in their sweat.
Bananas: This is a great fruit for runners for more reasons than just the great potassium levels. According to Livestrong.com, the carbohydrate content in bananas help runners with their energy production. They shared, “As the broken-down carbohydrates from the banana are combined with oxygen, a chemical reaction occurs, releasing energy for use by your muscle cells” (livestrong.com).
Almonds: Even though nuts can be somewhat caloric, they are necessary in a runner’s diet. Almonds, according to runnersworld.com, are a great source of vitamin E and will lower cholesterol levels that would otherwise clog arteries. Also, there are not many foods that offer a sufficient amount of vitamin E, so eating almonds a couple times a week to fuel running is a beneficial idea.
Eggs: Protein, protein, protein! Runners need to keep their protein levels up because protein is vital for rebuilding muscle tears after a workout. Without protein, the body cannot effectively repair and strengthen the muscles that were broken from running (sportsmedicine.about.com). Just one egg provides the body with 10 percent of the daily recommended amount of protein according to runnersworld.com.
Do you have any go-to foods before or after you run? Share and let us know!
