It’s the time of year again, resolution season. It’s a safe bet that most of those resolutions revolve around getting healthier and more active. Anna Heronimus, a sports dietitian with Avera Sports, talked with Dakota News Now about how setting healthy nutrition goals can help improve your Fitness goals as well.
What role does nutrition play in exercise and working out?
- Exercise is a key part of becoming healthier in the new year, but people are beginning to focus on nutrition as a primary fitness goal. Eating right can help you become healthier and happier by enabling you to work out more effectively, it also helps reduce body fat and achieve your fitness goals. The strong connection between nutrition and fitness suggests that eating the right foods can fuel you through harder and longer workouts.
What about water? How does staying hydrated impact your nutrition and fitness goals?
- Drinking more water helps you lose weight by burning more calories and can help in regulating your metabolism.
- Drinking water while working out is the ultimate muscle fuel. High-intensity physical activity can cause you to lose water through sweat and your muscles to become tired so rather than adding more calories through a sports drink, quench your thirst with water.
- Water also works as a lubricant for your joints, helping to reduce joint pain and protect against daily wear and tear.
How much water should we be drinking?
- As a general rule of thumb, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, it is recommended you drink 100 ounces of water if you are performing non-strenuous activities
What are some “fitness foods” to try out or start incorporating into your diet?
- Salmon and fish for the Omega 3 fatty acids
- Peanut butter is the ultimate sports nutrition superfood because it is nutrient-dense, filled with healthy fat and proven to provide long-lasting energy for athletic endurance.
- Sweet potatoes
- Broccoli and other greens
