The 5 Carbs You Should Be Eating Before The Big Race

Attention, runners! Repeat after us: Carbs are good for me. In fact, carbohydrates aren't just nutritious in the days leading up to a big race like a marathon -- they're essential. And with both the Boston Marathon and London Marathon right around the corner, we spoke with Pam Nisevich Bede, a registered dietitian, Runner’s World contributor and experienced marathoner, to gain insight into the best ways to carb-load in the days before a big race. "When you put months and months and hours and hours into your training, you want to make the most out of race day," Bede said. "And when you introduce more carbohydrates into your diet in those three days leading up to the race, you can really fulfill all of those glycogen stores and top off the tank. Glycogen stores are really the fuel for the muscle. Just like you wouldn’t start a road trip with a half-empty or quarter-empty tank of gas, you wouldn’t want to arrive at the starting line partially fueled." When you do it correctly, carb-loading is the best way to prepare your body for the race it's about to endure. Bede suggests limiting protein and fat intake, all while making the most of your carbohydrate calories in the days before the race, starting with these five foods that benefit your health and your muscles' energy stores. Whole Grains "Obviously we want to make at least half of our daily grain intake whole grains," said Bede. "Whole grains fight inflammation, and they give us some fiber. They keep not only the...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news