Let’s get physical! At Dorrel, we love to break a bit of sweat. Whether it be a light walk, a brisk jog, or a nice bike ride - physical activity and exercise is an important part of our daily lives! It’s a healthy lifestyle and allows us to expend energy while relieving stress. While we’re totally in tune with staying active and working out, what’s not talked about enough is proper nutrition and fueling up to stay powered up and running during a workout sesh.
A good meal and snack can make or break your exercise routine. Our bodies perform best when they are properly fueled. Skipping meals and going straight to physical exercise can result in reduced muscle mass, low bone density, and fatigue. Fueling up before and during a workout with essential carbohydrates provides the body with energy to sustain long-term strain and expenditure.
Why carbohydrates? Carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap over the years. With the increased popularity in the Atkins diet and Keto, folks have been ditching the bread and reaching for the butter. But research over the past 50 years has shown that carbs help your body during long and high-intensity exercise. In fact, the more active you are, the more carbs you need. Carbs come in a variety of forms: Dried fruits, pastas, and whole-grain breads are all great sources of carbohydrates.
The tough part, however, is fitting a bowl of pasta into your bike short’s pocket or in the lining of your sports bra! That’s when Dorrel comes in. Our tiny but powerful packets of goodness are small enough to fit into any nook and cranny of your workout gear, but are dense enough to supply you with tons of energy during and after your swim, pilates class, or 5k.
Dates are a fabulous source of carbs and fiber. While carbs give you energy, fiber helps to keep you full and may promote regularity. Dark chocolate contains caffeine, a very popular workout supplement, to keep you awake and active. Meanwhile, this antioxidant-rich food protects your cells from free-radicals. Last but not least, nuts contain healthy fats which are essential for a balanced diet. Unsaturated fats, like the ones naturally found in nuts, are what allow the body to absorb vitamins A, D, and E - so don’t skip on those good fats!