When you're hungry after a workout and on your way home, you may be tempted to stop at the pizza shop. After burning calories during a workout, your body is likely craving calories, carbs and protein, and pizza may seem like a good option. But before you buy a slice of your favorite pizza pie, consider how your post-workout nutrition habits are affecting your efforts. Pizza may be slowing down your results, rather than helping you recover.
Pizza Nutritional Information
Fast food pizza is an unhealthy choice for a post-workout meal. A slice of a leading fast food pepperoni pizza has 250 calories and a whopping 10 g of fat, 4.5 g of which are saturated. While pizza is a good source of carbs, with 27 g, most often those are refined carbohydrates that have the nutrients removed for easier digestion. With meat toppings and cheese, you can expect anywhere from 10 to 14 g of protein. Paired with the high fat content and calorie count, the protein and carb count hardly offset pizza's inherently unhealthy nature.
Effects
Indulging in a piece of pizza post-workout once in a while won't necessarily hurt your body, but it may not be as beneficial as a healthier option. What's more, the relatively high caloric content of typical pizza may undo the calorie burning of your workout, making your fitness progress slower, particularly if you're hoping for weight loss. Instead of reaching for pizza, look for healthier, lower-fat, lower-calorie options, such as whole-wheat pasta with chicken, brown rice, beef and veggies or a protein shake.
Post-Workout Nutrition
After you workout, your body's glycogen stores are lowered. Glycogen is responsible for the storage and release of carbohydrates for energy in your body. That's why you need to refuel with complex carbohydrate-rich foods that replenish your energy stores after a strenuous workout. If you've engaged in weight training or other muscular activity, your muscles may have sustained microscopic tears as part of the process. Consuming protein helps supply your muscles with the amino acids they need to repair and become stronger.
Healthy Pizza
When it comes to post-workout nutrition, not all pizzas are created equally. While a slice of greasy, fast food variety pizza may slow your progress, a homemade pizza with the right ingredients can help you recover after a workout without adding unnecessary calories. For instance, pizza made on a whole wheat or thin crust, topped with tomato sauce, sauteed vegetables and lean chicken can make for a healthy alternative that still satisfies your craving for pizza.
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