One of the most important things to consider when working out is nutrition. You can’t have a workout session without keeping hydrated, which is why doctors and instructors are always encouraging people to drink more water. Nor can you work out without the proper nutrition to keep your energy levels up. Both professional athletes as well as regular people who go to the gym in order to keep fit and healthy, are always looking for the best foods to help them get better results from their workout sessions.
Spirulina, a green algae rich in various nutrients, such as Protein, B-vitamins, Iron, and Calcium, can be a powerful ally to help you get in shape. Add spirulina to your daily nutrition and you will see your health and fitness improve significantly.
Keep reading to find out why spirulina for workout is something you need to consider:
It’s high in protein
Exercise strains your muscles and in order to recover you will need protein. Being rich in protein, spirulina is especially beneficial to those who want to improve their muscles and muscle tone. Protein rich foods are an essential part of your lifestyle if you work out regularly. There are two different types of protein:
Incomplete proteins – These contain only some of the essential amino acids and are found in most plant sources.
Complete proteins - These contain all of the essential amino acids and are most commonly found in animal sources, quinoa, hemp, soy buckwheat, chia and spirulina. As you can see, it is possible to meet your protein needs as a vegetarian or vegan too.
Boosts energy levels
Organic spirulina will boost your energy levels and improve your workout sessions. You will notice a difference in your energy levels by being able to stretch your workout sessions longer or push yourself harder and faster.
As soon as you start noticing it, you will find yourself questioning how you managed to get through the day before you started taking spirulina for workout.
Spirulina might also help with post-workout recovery or enhance cardio workouts if that is your goal. Having a nutritious post-workout drink or snack is important to replenish your energy stores after that gruelling hour spent at the gym.
It’s not only for athletes
Spirulina is not just beneficial for athletes, though, this superfood is good for the whole family and can help keep colds away, improve hair and nail structure, keep blood pressure under control or even balance your blood sugar levels. It is an amazing source of protein for vegetarians and vegans and is gluten free, which means it can be consumed by people suffering from celiac disease.
It’s easy to use
Most people feel that the quicker, and easier it is to prepare a meal or snack before and after a workout session, the better. Spirulina’s various nutritional benefits make it ideal for a pre or post workout snack.
There are various easy ways you can ingest or prepare spirulina, depending on which form you buy it in.
- Spirulina in tablet form, simply take it with a glass of water as you would any other tablet.
- Spirulina in powder form, make yourself a nice smoothie that you can enjoy before or after a workout session.
Here is a quick and easy recipe for a pre workout spirulina smoothie:
- Use one banana, one teaspoon spirulina, 1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk) and a dash of cinnamon. For a more zesty taste, add a bit of lemon or lime.
After a workout, we’re hot, sweaty and worn out! Our bodies have worked through much of our glycogen and triglyceride energy reserves. Electrolytes have been lost through heavy sweating. And our muscle tissue has been damaged by the micro-trauma caused by the workout. A dosage of spirulina smoothie will help to replenish the body.
For the recipe you are going to need a fruit like an avocado, apple or pear along with lemon or orange juice, a herb like basil, and last but not the least a teaspoon of spirulina powder. In addition to proteins and essential vitamins, this smoothie will also provide you with antioxidants that help fight premature aging and make you feel fit and healthy overall.
Have you never tried spirulina? Prepare yourself for a unique experience. The taste may take some time to get used to but with an added fruit or a dash of your favourite condiment, you will see how delicious it can be.
If you want to use spirulina for enhanced workout purposes, ensure that you purchase the organic product, which is available in tablet form as well as powder form. Some brands use improper procedures during harvesting which could lead to heavy metal contamination so be sure to purchase only from certified distributors.
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