There’s a reason why you’re always craving sugar after workout.
Learn how to satisfy your sweet tooth while maintaining a healthy balance.
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Then, you find yourself craving sugar after workout.
New Jersey-based registered dietitian
What is sugar and how does your body use it?
The key is being more mindful of how youre consuming sugar.
The body takes glucose and makes it into glycogen.
Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscles.
When exercising, the body will tap into these glycogen stores.
Why do I crave sugar after a workout?
While research on the topic is a bit thin, studieshave shown1people tend to crave more sweets post-workout.
And the reason why?
The body may be looking to restore glycogen.
New Jersey-based registered dietitian
One might experience sugar cravings after a workout due to low energy stores, says Smolen.
The craving signifies the body wanting immediate refueling and sugar.
But thats not all.
The key, he says, is prepping your body with the right nutrients ahead of time.
Some cravings are usually sparked by mismanaged food programs.
If youre eating the right things, youll crave the right things, he explains.
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Not all workouts will require refueling during the activity.
However for endurance athletes like runners or cyclists, consuming carbs during activity is advised, she says.
This is because consuming a drink during exercise improves performance and increases how long one can continue to exercise.
It can even help reduce cramping, which might come from dehydration.
After a workout
How about eating sugar post-workout?
Thats why Smolen says its so important to prioritize balanced post-exercise nutrition.
you might also grab a protein bar with a good ratio of carbohydrates to protein.
This keeps sugar cravings at bay and rebuilds muscle at the same time.
But lets say you walk out of spin class dying for a big juicy steak or bag of chips.
[It means] your body had a high sweat rate while you were training, says Dr. Goglia.
You dont want to overload any one thing, for example.
Protein
Good news: If youre craving protein, youre on the right track.
Those performing more rigorous workouts will most likely need more calories post-workout than those completing less vigorous workouts.
For example, he says to eat chicken mid-day rather than at dinner time.
And as we all know, sleep is pretty much the most important way to recharge post-workout anyhow.
All in all, if you find yourself dealing with post-workout cravings, see them as clues.
FAQ
1.
Is it good to eat sugar after a workout?
Experiencing sugar cravings post-workout isnt a bad thing.
Noticing sweet cravings after exercise is typically your body telling you that it needs to refuel.
What food to avoid after workout?
you’re free to also choose healthier sugar choices when you consume added sugar.
For instance, there are so manybenefits to using honeyas a sweetener.
And when it comes tococonut sugar vs cane sugar, coconut sugar has a nutritional edge.
May, Christine N et al.
Acute aerobic exercise increases implicit approach motivation for dessert images.Journal of health psychologyvol.
23,6 (2018): 807-817. doi:10.1177/1359105316657404
Drenowatz, Clemens et al.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between different exercise types and food cravings in free-living healthy young adults.Appetitevol.
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