Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
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GOOD LUCK MY LOVELY BLOGGERS!!! I'll post the winner as soon as they win... =D
Thursday, May 24, 2012
HONEY
Best For: Soothing muscles that are sore from high-intensity activities like CrossFit
Why it Works: According to Sims, Manuka honey, which is made from bees that feed on Manuka flowers in New Zealand, possesses anti-inflamatory properties, not to mention the carbohydrates needed to help rebuild muscle fibers. “Active Manuka honey has a high level of non-peroxide antibacterial components, unique to this type of honey,” says Sims. “It can be useful internally (for ulcers, acid reflux) and topically (for blisters, cuts, road rash). It supports the immune system, and thus boosts the acute immunosuppressant response of exercise.”
The Recipe: Stacy Sims’s Honey Stinger
It’s simple: Sims mixes the honey into non-fat Greek yogurt for a quick and easy recovery meal.
Make today GREAT!!! =)
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Primary Benefits:
And now those recovery recipes... BANANA AND COCONUTBest For: Avoiding post-exercise cramps Why it Works: Ever cramp after, or during, a tough workout? That’s because your body doesn’t have enough electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and calcium. It’s potassium that prevents involuntary muscle contraction, and the nutrient is found in abundance in both bananas and coconuts. Those also happen to be the two main ingredients in Samoan poi, a classic Hawaiian dish and one of famed surfer Chris Malloy’s favorite post-ride meals while surfing the 50th state’s classic breaks. SALMONBest For: Long, slow endurance recovery Why it Works: Scientists are still debating this one, but the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil appear to help reduce post-exercise muscle inflammation. The conventional wisdom is that omega 3s lower the amount of prostaglandin, a naturally produced compound in the body that can accentuate inflammation. Salmon is also packed with lean protein. Stanford University sports nutritionist and physiologist, Stacy Sims, adds the fish to her endurance athlete’s post recovery meal in order to enhance muscle repair. The Recipe: Stacy Sims’s Recovery Breakfast |
Monday, May 21, 2012
TURKEY
Why it Works: Most people believe that a recovery meal after a lifting session needs to have a higher protein content because your muscles are so taxed. Not true. The same 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio applies.Glenn Lyman, a chef and nutritionist whose client list includes NFL Pro Bowl player Steve Smith, recommends low-fat chocolate milk immediately following your workout. Lyman also encourages athletes to take a glutamine supplement (an amino acid that helps with protein synthesis) from a reputable company like Revolutionary Sports Performance. “Two-and-a-half hours later, seek out a real meal with similar ratios, 4:1 complex carbohydrates to lean protein,” says Lyman. “This one should include slow digesting, fiber rich starches and lean protein with a little healthful fat.” One of Lyman’s go to combinations is garden brown rice with lean ground turkey. Beyond just protein, turkey contains selenium, a nutrient that helps buffer damaging by-products of exercise (peroxides and free radicals) that accumulate in the muscles during training. According to the book Advanced Sports Nutritionby Dan Benardot, "A selenium deficiency may result in muscle weakness and increased recovery time after exhaustive exercise.” Reduce cooking time during the week by making more than one serving on Sunday and warming up the leftovers on weekdays. “I like to make the entire recipe and store it in individual portions for my clients for quick healthful meals during training days,” says Lyman.
The Recipe: Garden Brown Rice with Lean Ground Turkey
Ingredients
3 cup brown rice, cooked
1 cup corn kernels, fresh, or frozen
1 cup zucchini, diced
1 cup summer squash, diced
1 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 cup carrot, diced
10 ounces spinach, fresh
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup chicken stock
8 ounces ground turkey, cooked
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons Creole Soul Seasoning
1 green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley, fresh, chopped
Directions
In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown the ground turkey and onion (seasoned with salt and creole seasoning) in 1 tablespoon of oil until cooked through. Drain. Saute all vegetables (except spinach) over medium-high heat, in remaining oil until crisp tender, stirring often about 3-4 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring just to a boil. Add spinach mixing well until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Toss with cooked brown rice and ground turkey. Garnish with parsley and green onion.
TURMERIC AND GINGER
Why it Works: Tumeric and ginger have been used for centuries as a painkillers in eastern medicine. Curcumin, the active ingredient in both roots, was shown in a 2011 study by University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science to suppress a sub-cellular switch that triggers an inflammatory response. "Two days prior to the 2007 Hardrock 100 I badly sprained my ankle,” says famed ultrarunner, Scott Jurek. "Turmeric and ginger worked wonders in getting me to the starting line and racing hard. The natural anti-inflammatory benefits are longer lasting, do not delay the inflammatory process, and have no side effects so you can recover faster and keep the body in balance.” For a recovery meal, Jurek, who’s memoir Eat & Runcomes out June 5, adds the roots to tofu to make sure he’s not sore after 100 mile runs.
The Recipe: Scott Jurek’s Tofu Scramble
Ingredients
2 teaspoons coconut oil
1/2 cup onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ginger root, minced or 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
2 tablespoons turmeric root, minced or 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup mushrooms, finely diced
1/2 cup zucchini, finely diced
1/2 cup carrots, finely grated
1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
1 1/2 cups spinach, kale or other winter green, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
16 oz package firm tofu
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon paprika
*Optional (for spicy version): 1/2 small jalapeño or 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
Cooked whole grains or whole grain bread
Flora Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend
Directions
In a medium skillet sauté the onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and black pepper in oil over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes. While the first few ingredients are sautéing, chop the veggies. Add the veggies and sauté for 5 minutes. Crumble the tofu and add to veggies along with remaining ingredients. Saute for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more salt and black pepper to taste. Serve over a cooked whole grain, corn tortillas or whole grain toast. Sprinkle Udo's Oil on toast or grains for buttery flavor and extra anti-inflammatory benefit via Omega-3 fatty acids.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
CHILI
Best For: The gluten-free athlete
Why it Works: Dave Hahn, who has topped out on Mount Everest 13 times (a record for a non-Sherpa), builds up quite an appetite on expeditions. But the long-time guide has to watch what he eats. Hahn suffers from celiac disease, an inability to digest gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye). Eating anything containing gluten gives him severe stomach distress. That means bread, pasta, and even beer are out. Instead, Hahn refuels with carbs like beans and rice. One of his favorite post-climb meals? Chicken chili. The dish has plenty of protein and carbs to regenerate tired climbing muscles, but its namesake ingredient also contains nutrients that help aid recovery. Chili peppers are packed with B vitamins, particularly B6, which helps transport oxygen to all the body’s tissues, including muscles.
The Recipe: Gluten-Free Chicken Chili
Ingredients
12 oz. of boneless chicken breasts and thighs
1 Tbsp. cooking oil
1 4-oz. can of diced green chili peppers
1-1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 large onion, chopped
1 large bell pepper, chopped
2-1/2 cups or chicken broth
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 16-oz. cans of pinto beans, rinsed and drained
Directions
Cook the chicken in a skillet until it’s light brown. Place the cooked chicken in a large pot. Stir in the beans, undrained chile peppers, bell pepper, onion, chicken broth, garlic, cayenne pepper, cumin seeds into mixture in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for 7 to 8 hours.
CHICKEN FRIED RICE
Why it Works: Four hours on the bike burns about 4,500 calories in a 160-pound man. To recover properly, those calories need to be replaced, and the fat and rice in this dish—given to us by noted sports nutritionist,Allen Lim—contains 605 calories per serving, going a long way in accomplishing that task. It works so well, in fact, that it was the recovery meal most commonly requested by the cyclists Lim worked with during the 2010 Tour de France. “I think it's important to emphasize that there is a lot more to nutrition than the composition of macronutrients like carbohydrate, protein, and fat,” says Lim. “Nutrition is also about being nourished and enjoying what you eat. With that in mind, the fried rice not only fits into the category of healthy and delicious comfort food but it also works as a recovery food for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is calorically dense and the first thing we want to do is replace calories. Second the white rice has a high glycemic index which helps to get those calories in fast.”
The Recipe: Allen Lim’s Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
2–3 green onions, diced or thinly sliced
3 eggs
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
COOKED 2 cups cooked rice
COOKED 1 cup boneless chicken thighs (2–3 pieces)
1 cup frozen peas and corn
Directions
Bring a lightly oiled sauted pan to medium/high heat. Add the garlic and green onions and saute for about one minute. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and soy sauce vigorously and pour into the hot pan. The pan should be hot enough to cause the eggs to fluff. Stir the eggs to cook them quickly. Add the rice and cooked chicken thighs and fry the mixture for five to six minutes. Add the peas and corn and cook until the vegetables heat through and are vibrant in color.