Exercise is crucial to leading a healthy life, and it helps to keep our bodies in top condition. However, carrying out physical activity is only half of what is required to leading a healthy balanced lifestyle.
For most of us, changing our eating habits can be a little challenging. However, juice is a great boost to go along side your workouts. One big advantage of blending is that it allows very quick access to a range of different nutrients. Since a smoothie is in a pureed form, it makes digesting it a lot easier, which is sometimes what you need after an intense workout.
When you exercise you loose electrolytes and liquid from your body, so trying to reclaim these factors should be your main priority, as this will help with energy levels. Yes, certain sport drinks can provide you with electrolytes but these drinks often contain sugar or unnatural ingredients which isn't what your body asking for.
Any exercise designed to increase muscle mass needs a good dose of protein, and since you can combine a number of high protein foods together in just one drink, Blending is a great way to get exactly what you need. Get blending leafy greens such as spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, broccoli, carrots and beets — they’re a must have in any blending recipe.
Timing
Timing is a very important part of the blending and workout process. Drinking your smoothie before and after your workout can really help you notice the difference in your energy. You can also help recover your muscles by taking a smoothie an hour before you workout and a smoothie right after. This will decrease your recovery time and increase your form.
As we’ve previously discussed, the body loses electrolytes during a workout, but it also losses glycogen. Glcogen is a form of carbohydrate that is stored within the body. Glycogen and electrolytes are both decreased in the morning and after a workout. To replenish your glycogen and electrolyte levels make sure to blend oranges, pineapples and bananas to help restore what you've lost. you can also add more fruit and veg to the above, we suggest blending fruits and vegetables that have a high water content. This includes cucumbers, peppers, pears and mangos.
Another great ingredient to include in your blends is beetroot. this little gem of a vegetable can increase brain performance, reduced blood pressure and increased exercise performance. Such benefits have been attributed to the high nitrate content in beetroot.
There’s no doubt that natural smoothies, plenty of fiber and proper hydration are an absolutely essential to getting the best out of your body.
Our Smoothie Recommendations
If you use the right ingredients, you will reap the benefits so choose wisely when making your smoothies. Below are some quick recipes to start you off.
Get muscles quick
- 2 Handfuls of Spinach
- 1/2 a beetroot
- 2 Carrots
- 1 orange
Burn that fat
- 1 Handful of Kale
- 1 banana
- 1/4 mango
- 1 Apple
- ½ Lemon
If these recipes are producing to much smoothie adjust it to your needs, or if you feel there isn’t enough smoothie add more.
We hope you start drinking smoothies in conjunction with your workouts because they really do make a difference to your physical wellbeing.