It’s been sometime since I wrote anything on fitness. This is what happens to part-time running enthusiasts like me whose enthusiasm fizzles out after January/February and we decide to take a break from running, which extends way beyond planned. It’s almost July and vacations are over, now I am finally back to running. But, now monsoons are here, and I have a few inhibitions about my skin, hair and nutrition as monsoons seem to take a toll on all three.
Some perks of being a blogger are, that industry experts are willing to share inputs on all these factors with you. Today’s post is all about the ‘right nutrition’ to keep our bodies nourished for a healthy, glowing skin while exercising and applies to all workout enthusiast and not only runners. As a bonus we have roped in Anandini Swaminathan, who is a dietitian by profession.
She will be talking about foods that are good for working out either indoors or outdoors, even during the rains. Here’s how you can keep chapped, lifeless skin away and exercise to look your best during the rainy season. Check these 8 nutrition tips from her;
Hydrate
Drinking plenty of fluids will remove toxins from the body and keep your skin hydrated. Ideally, an adult should drink between 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day and a child about a litre a day. Although, juices and fizzy drinks count as fluids, don’t indulge because they contain a lot of sugar which is not good in large quantities. Some of the best hydration options are water, coconut water and green tea (for adults).
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Hydration is also vital during exercise, it keeps the body cool. Choose a hydration drink that contains electrolytes so that the fluid balance is maintained and muscle soreness is kept at bay.
Watch What You Eat
Tasty deep-fried foods are a perfect snack on a cold, rainy day. Please don’t make this your staple diet. Digestion slows down during the monsoon and you will be better off eating light and including foods like onion, garlic and ginger in the diet. If you eat too much fatty food your skin will be prone to pimples and acne.
Eating high fat food before a workout will only make you feel nauseated and hinder your performance. After a workout, eating fatty foods will mean consuming a lot of calories, possibly a lot more than you have expended during exercise.
Eat Good Fats
Yes, some fats are great for your skin. Fish, almonds and walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids which contribute to skin and hair health.
In terms of exercise, omega-3 fats help prevent muscle soreness and reduce inflammation of cells. Read More
Probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria which are found in curd. They help improve digestion and maintain good gut health which in turn keep your skin looking healthy and prevents the outbreak of pimples. Choose low fat curd for a healthier option.
Maintaining good gut health will enhance absorption of nutrients from digested food. This is a very important factor if you are exercising regularly. The better your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, the better you will perform.
Sweet Spuds
Sweet potato is an excellent source of Vitamin A, a nutrient that helps keep skin blemish free and supple.
In terms of sports nutrition, sweet potato is a power house of energy and is an ideal pre workout snack.
Go Avocado
Avocados are rich in vitamins which promote skin health and are a rich source of good fats. They are very versatile and can be used in salads, sandwiches, milkshakes or just eaten plain.
The nutrients from avocados will help prevent cell damage after vigorous activity.
Broccoli
When it comes to choosing broccoli, the darker the better. It is an excellent source of vitamins A and C. We already know the functions of vitamin A. Vitamin C helps reduce inflammation which will keep away wrinkles and fine lines on the skin.
Green Tea
Aside from being a source of hydration, green tea also contains antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent cell damage and keep skin clear and glowing.
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Broccoli and green tea, both contain a lot of antioxidants which will prevent cell inflammation and damage after exercise.
We at MaaOfAllBlogs Team hope you will find these nutritional tips very useful. I am already making my diet chart based on these suggestions by Anandini. Do let us know if you have any questions, and we can try and tackle those with Anandini. Now it’s back to running but with health in mind 🙂 !
Anandani Swaminathan, is a certified dietician. She is passionate about promoting healthy eating within the community. She loves to travel and helps look after her family’s coffee and pepper plantation in India.To know more about her nutrition and travel stories, you can visit her blog www.confessionsofadietitian.in.
