Fuel Your Workouts With the Paleo Diet
What is the Paleo Diet and how can it work for you? Get-Fit Guy explains how you too can work out like a caveman (or woman)
Ben Greenfield
It seems that lately, there’s been quite a bit of talk about Paleo diets and Paleo nutrition. The basic idea behind the Paleo style of eating is that many modern agricultural foods such as bread and cereal are avoided, along with highly processed foods, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and just about anything that our caveman ancestors wouldn’t have recognized as real food.
While there are good arguments both for and against a Paleo approach to eating, one important question for fitness enthusiasts is If I’m going to eat like a caveman, how do I fuel my workout?
Here are some good Paleo choices to munch on before, during, or after a workout:
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Trail Mix: Don’t grab the stuff from the gas station. Instead, toss raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried blueberries, raisins, and coconut flakes into a bag, and shake!
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Beef Jerky: Although it’s a bit tough to chew quickly at the gym, jerky works well for a long hike or bike ride.
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Fruit: Yes, in moderation, fruit is a healthy and recognizable food that’s been around a long time.
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Potatoes, sweet potatoes, or yams: Before a long workout session, these tubers are fantastic, dense carbohydrate sources.
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Eggs: Whether prepared with spinach and tomatoes or eaten boiled with salt and pepper, eggs are a wonderful protein source that helps muscles to repair and recover.
For more, check out my full episode on Paleo exercises to learn how to workout like a caveman!
Sweet Potatoes image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.