Depending on your level of fitness and your goals, you probably heard different approaches to which diet to follow, or what not to eat. One thing is certain, you need to fuel your body before training in order to lift as heavy as needed or to run for as long as you want. BOXROX has selected six natural energy sources to power your body.
“Carbohydrates are the enemy of any athlete.” You probably heard or read something similar when researching a new diet to follow. The Keto Diet and the Paleo Diet, two famous diets in the CrossFit community, certainly fall into that category. However, as usual, when it comes to nutrition it is not that simple.
It actually goes in the opposite direction if you are looking for a good source of energy to fuel your body. “Carbs are the primary energy source for us,” says Justin Romaire, a nutrition coach, founder and CEO of Consistency Breeds Growth.
“Food is considered energy if it has calories. The calorie is the unit of energy we use, define how much energy a food provides,” he adds.
It is important to make a distinction, though. Some foods can boost your energy levels very quickly, while others are more sustainable in the long run. A quick energy boost would be perfect for an intense short sprint, while a slower energy food is more suitable for a long run, for example.
“Quick natural energy sources would be any high glycemic carbohydrate. Longer more sustained energy would come from complex carbohydrates,” Justin Romaire explains. Glycemic index (GI) is a value assigned to foods based on how slowly or quickly those foods cause increases in blood glucose levels.
With that in mind, here are 6 natural energy sources to power your body.
White Potatoes
Usually considered the enemy in most diets, do not shy away from this food. To get an energy boost quickly “white potatoes are going to be your best bet,” Justin tells us.
High glycemic foods are considered to have a value between 70 and 100. White potatoes, depending on how you prepare them, can have a GI above 85.
One medium baked white potato contains 37 grams of carbs, 4.5 grams of fibre, 4 grams of protein and 1.8 grams of sugar. It also has vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and zinc.
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