Top 9 Healthy Eating Foods To Fuel Your Fitness

Healthy Eating Foods For Fitness

Being fit and healthy isn’t all about going to the gym or not having any excess weight on your body. It’s also about sleeping well, having enough energy and looking after your skin, hair and nails.

The foods we eat make up a big part of how we feel, look and act in general. A better diet will help you in many different ways, so here are some of the top healthy eating foods to help to fuel your fitness levels and general health.

Top 9 Healthy Eating Foods To Fuel Your Fitness

1. Green Vegetables

Growing up, we’re always being told to eat our vegetables, and it’s certainly not an old wives’ tale that they are genuine healthy eating foods. Full of antioxidants and other minerals, greens such as broccoli, kale and spinach have a wealth of benefits within them. They can enhance your overall health as well as making you feel fuller for longer. To add flavour to your vegetables, steam them and melt some butter once they are cooked, or add some dried Italian herbs or other spices such as paprika or curry powder.

2. Avocado

People hoping to lose weight on a calorie-controlled diet often shy away from eating avocadoes since they are relatively high in calories and fat. However, eating just half an avocado will help you to feel full, preventing you from overeating the wrong foods. It’s important to remember that this food contains healthy fats, not bad or sugary fats. High in potassium, avocadoes will balance out your sodium intake, helping to reduce bloating. Anxiety, stress and high blood pressure can also be relieved through the right level of potassium in your diet.

3. Eggs

You can easily add eggs to a fresh salad at lunch time, and as long as you’re buying the free-range variety, you’ll get lots of goodness. Experts recommend eating raw eggs, but only if they are free-range and not laid by chickens raised in factories. The next best option is either soft-boiled or poached, but you should stay away from fried or scrambled eggs. You should aim to eat around 6-7 eggs per week, as this will aid your immune system and help to repair any damaged tissue in your body.

Free Report: 15 Foods To Eat Before & After Your Workouts
 
4. Bananas

To get the most out of your workout, eat a banana half an hour before you start exercising. This will give you the right amount of calories that you need, and you’ll be giving your body long enough to digest it before you work out. Bananas can also help you to feel more relaxed, thanks to their high levels of Vitamin B6.

5. Salmon And Other Fish

People who are trying to lose weight will often eat lots of fish in their diet. Fish is relatively low in calories compared to meats like pork and lamb. However, it’s important not to eat too much fish since some of it contains moderate levels of mercury which can be harmful to the body, particularly for children and pregnant women. You should limit your fish intake to 2-3 portions per week, and choose oily fish with Omega 3 for maximum benefits.

6. Sweet Potato

Before hitting the gym, sweet potatoes provide a great way to get a small quick meal, and they’re healthier than regular potatoes. They rank much lower on the glycemic index (GI), meaning that they don’t raise the blood glucose levels as much. Containing good levels of Vitamins A, C and B6, they will help you to feel more energetic and conserve your energy, which is why sweet potatoes are such a great pre-gym food!

7. Raw Foods

These aren’t a specific type of healthy eating foods, but raw foods tend to be better for you than boiled or fried foods. When it comes to eating your veggies, eat them raw whenever possible. Of course, not everybody likes to eat raw vegetables. But if you’re having a salad or you want a quick snack, raw carrots, celery and peppers are full of nutrients and are part of your 5-a-day too.

8. Whole Grains

If you’re a fan of bread, rice, pasta and other carbs, trade the white versions in for the better whole grain types. You can find a wide variety of bread in your supermarket, including fruit bread and bread with nuts and seeds. So if you find plain brown bread bland and boring, you can try other versions which are equally good for you. Brown pasta can be mixed with regular pasta sauces, and brown rice can be paired with a curry or mixed vegetables.

9. Almonds and Other Nuts

While nuts might seem very high in calories (approximately 150 calories per 25g), they will make you feel full while giving you nutrients such as copper and magnesium. A good source of Vitamin E, almonds can be added to a stir fry, salad or a bowl of mixed veggies. Snack on them during the day, before the gym or add to some yoghurt for a healthy dessert after dinner.

Finding The Right Healthy Eating Foods To Suit You

Your diet needs to meet your individual needs based on your age, gender, body type, lifestyle and goals. For example, a post-menopausal woman who is vegetarian will need very different recommendations than a 24-year-old male who smokes. For the most up to date and relevant diet to suit you and your lifestyle download the My Food Diary.

This highly-acclaimed food database contains over 100,000 foods to improve your diet beyond just counting calories. Plus the exercise log can calculate calories burned for over 700 activities from traditional exercise to lifestyle activities to non-traditional exercise. Avoid any more confusion about healthy eating foods with this handy app that’s available in desktop, iPhone and mobile versions.