A small fillet of wild-caught salmon stretches to serve four in the form of lovely little salmon cakes on a salad. Instead of breadcrumbs, you’ll bind them with a bit of whole-grain oats, and if you choose gluten-free oats. Lean endurance take;
A great gluten free option
Fish and shellfish are nutrient dense and salmon is no exception. It is an excellent source of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals (including potassium, selenium and vitamin B12)
It is the content of omega-3 fatty acids that receives the most attention, and rightly so. It is this essential fat which is responsible for oily fish’s reputation as a valuable ‘brain food’.
Muscle Recovery — Fish oil helps to reduce the inflammation caused by exercise. This allows for quicker recovery and less muscle soreness. We all need that for those KEY workouts, yes?
Improve Lung Performance — You know that familiar feeling during a run, of having fresh legs, but lacking in the whole breathing department? Fish oil improves blood flow and therefore, oxygen delivery during peak energy intervals.
Joint Health — As we age it is increasingly important to take care of our joints. Omega-3 fatty acid helps to ease joint stiffness and combat chemicals that destroy cartilage.
Loose UNHEALTHY Body Fat — The more in shape you are, the better your athletic performance will be. Fish oil can actually help you lose unhealthy body fat. Remember, we all need fat to run healthy and keep strong, but if you’re looking to get to that healthy body fat, then adding fish to your diet along with proper exercise can help! The DHA found in Omega-3 can also reprogram the genes so that carbohydrates are broken down by the body and not stored as fat.
Heart Health — Of course most of us know fish oil supports heart health, and a healthy heart is imperative for runners. Research has shown that Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can decrease the likelihood of cardiovascular disease.
Grilled lean chicken is served alongside a portion of brown rice tossed with celery, onion, peas and carrots that’s dressed in a lemon-mustard sauce. It’s a zingy lunch filled with protein and fiber to fuel your active life! Meal benefits for staying lean and healthy include;
Slow burning carbohydrates from brown rice keep you satiated in combination with chicken (high in protein).
Excellent secondary recovery meal or overall satisfying meal that is filling and modest in overall total calories.
Low in sugar and a non processed food.
An all around balanced meal of protein, carbohydrates, veggies and lower in total fat calories.
There are many high-carbohydrate foods beneficial to both your health and athletic performance. The key is choosing the right ones. The benefits to sweet potatoes in general;
Sweet flavor
High fiber
A four ounce sweet potato contains a mere 143 calories with a whopping 28g of carbohydrates and more than 100% of your daily requirement for beta-carotene.
Helpful to enhance muscle recovery after intensive training
“Tofu and vegetables take a bath in just enough coconut milk to coat them with Thai flavors for an exotic and easy stir-fry. Steamed, diced sweet potatoes stand in for white rice, giving you a fiber-rich, slightly sweet base to soak up the sauce. Enjoy beneficial nutrients like 40% of your daily iron and 11 grams of fiber, while employing a cheap source of protein in tofu.”
Lean endurance benefits;
It is especially important for athletes because exercise produces free radicals and an excess of free radicals can damage cells
When eaten with the skin on, a sweetpotato provides 100% of the daily recommended value of vitamin A, which plays a vital role in vision, bone development and immune function
Complex Carbohydrates – Sweetpotatoes are made up of complex carbs – long chains of sugar molecules (polysaccharides). When eaten, carbohydrates break down into glucose (sugar) – the body’s main energy source.
Research has shown that some of the vitamins and minerals found in sweetpotatoes are especially important in athletes’ diets – these include iron and vitamin C
