Find out if there any foods you should avoid eating after working out?

By Chris Aceto

April 4, 2009

MuscleAndFitnessHers.com

The immediate aftereffects of a hardcore training session cause the body to act like a sponge, absorbing far more carbohydrates and amino acids from protein than at any other time of day. Muscles burn through glycogen, their stored collection of carbohydrates, during the workout and literally crave them in the post-training phase. That's why you can get away with eating plenty of fast-digesting carbs with little worry about adding bodyfat at this time. Likewise, you need plenty of protein to rebuild the recently traumatized muscle tissue.

That leaves dietary fat the one nutrient to avoid soon after training. Fat slows digestion, and after a workout, you want the opposite - rapid digestion - to immediately start the recovery and repair processes and spur the release of hormones that facilitate growth. So until at least 90 minutes after training, avoid proteins with high-fat content such as beef, whole eggs, dairy products and salmon. Your best bet is liquid protein like whey, casein, soy and/or egg protein shakes. Avoid fiber in the 90-minute window after working out because it slows digestion as well; save the veggies, oatmeal and whole-grain breads for other meals.

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