What to eat: Getting The Right Thing For Your Best Performance

Food provides your body with necessary energy. To make the most of your workouts, focus on these foods.

Carbohydrates:Body's chief source of fuel
You'll feel better when you exercise if you eat foods high in carbohydrates and low in fat. Your body stores excess carbohydrates as glycogen — primarily in your muscles and liver. Your muscles use stored glycogen when needed for energy.

A diet containing at least 50 percent of calories from carbohydrates allows your body to store glycogen, but if you're a long-distance runner or you exercise for long periods of time, you might want to consume more carbohydrates regularly and consider carbohydrate loading before a big athletic event.

Good carbohydrate sources include cereals, breads, vegetables, pasta, rice and fruit.
Foods high in fiber and fructose right before an intense workout may cause problems. High-fiber foods, such as beans and lentils, bran cereals and fruit, may give you gas or cause cramping. Fructose, a simple sugar found in fruit, can increase the tendency for diarrhea with high-intensity exercise.Consider beverage sources if you don't like to eat solid foods before exercising.

Protein and fats: Important, but not your body's top fuel choice
Protein isn't your body's food of choice for fueling exercise, but it does play a role in muscle repair and growth. Most people can easily get the protein they need from food sources and don't need additional protein supplements. Good protein sources include:

Meat
Dairy products
Nuts
Fat is an important, although smaller, part of your diet. Fats, as well as carbohydrates, can provide fuel for your muscles during exercise. Try to get most of your fat from unsaturated sources such as:

Nuts
Fatty fish
Vegetable oils

Avoid fatty foods just before exercising, though. Fats remain in your stomach longer, causing you to feel less comfortable.