When it comes to preparing to start training, you might have your outfit, water, and training plan ready, but knowing what foods to eat can be a little more difficult.
So, what are the foods that you need to avoid when training?
1. White Bread
The Glycemic Index rates different kinds of food based on their impact on blood sugar levels in a person. White bread is incredibly high on the GI, meaning that you’re not getting the fiber you need and will see an unhealthy insulin increase. For the best bread-based choices, always check that the ingredients list starts with “whole-grain flour.”
2.Flaxseed
While it’s true you need fiber for a healthy workout, too much can make you bloat and feel uncomfortable when training. Whole flaxseed is too dense for your body to digest well.
3. Dried Fruit
Fresh fruit is full of minerals and vitamins for your training, but dried and dehydrated fruit is often pumped full of added sugar and sulfur so it lasts longer on shelves. Furthermore, when water is removed from a fruit, your body digests it differently, meaning that you may overeat.
4. Diet Soda
Despite saying “diet” on the side, diet soda is high in artificial sweeteners. Because these sweeteners are so much stronger than naturally occurring sugars, your body instinctively produces more insulin to compensate. Add in that some of these sweeteners have dangerous and even carcinogenic properties in lab tests, and diet soda doesn’t sound so appealing anymore.
5. Processed Meats
When you’re training, you need foods that will help to repair your body and replace any nutrients lost during training. Processed foods, especially meats, have no nutritional value and are considered “empty calories.” Meat is a tricky food to get right when you’re training, which is why many top athletes and competitors are switching to vegetarian and vegan diets.
6. Fried Foods
Oils in the deep-frying process for foods are all high in saturated fat. Not only will this increase digestion discomfort in the short term, but in the long term, it can increase your risk of having a stroke, diabetes, and even heart attacks.
7. Protein Bars
Protein bars that contain under 10g of protein will actually lower your blood sugar level and have you feeling tired faster.
8. Dairy Products
High-protein foods, like dairy, don’t contain enough carbohydrates. This means that energy from protein isn’t reaching your blood quick enough so you’ll end up feeling shakier.
9. Eggs (Raw AND Cooked)
The same can be said for eggs for their protein levels – you need plenty of carbs alongside them. Also, raw eggs can contain harmful salmonella bacteria associated with diarrhea and stomach cramps.
10. Spicy Foods
It’s true that the spicier the food, the faster they burn calories, but this can also cause stomach pain right before training.