Eating for Endurance

Carbs got a bad rap for a few years. But those days are long gone. Everyone now knows that eating the right kinds of carbs are necessary for healthy training. The question is do they really know what those are?

With a limitless variety of sports drinks, gels, bars and other random creations on the market, it’s hard to tell the good from the bad and the ugly. You see, the labels tell you they’re full of energy or they’ll give you power, but they don’t give you the full scoop.

It’s simple. Energy is measured in the form of calories. That means a spoonful of sugar could be an “energy supplement”. But is that really all you want from your calories? Of course not. Those of us who care about our bodies work out because we want to be healthy and fit. It feels good. That means we want our foods to provide more than a quick hit of energy.

This is where whole grains (a.k.a. complex carbohydrates) come into play. Because whole grains take a while for our bodies to digest, they provide perfect long lasting energy while giving us the nutrients and vitamins that our muscles, joints and bones crave during a workout and beyond. In addition to securing your energy level long after mile 20, whole grains work within your body to make sure it’s ready for the next session. Some may exercise so that they can eat a little more sugar and feel OK about it, but real athletes are sweet on the power of positive eating.

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