PERFECT PAIRS
FOOD COMBINING COULD BE THE SECRET TO ACHIEVING YOUR RUNNING PEAK, SAYS NUTRITIONIST LOUISE PYNE
FOOD PAIRS
Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand. But if you switch your diet up a notch then you could reap some pretty awesome workout rewards. Combining certain foods can boost results by providing your body with the nutrients it needs to protect, recover and strengthen from exercise. This is because, when paired together, these foods have double the power, which gives you more bang for your nutritional buck. We’ve put together our essential matches, to help you get the most out of every workout.
SALMON + BROCCOLI = BONE PROTECTING
While the weight-bearing nature of running helps to strengthen bones, it’s also a cause of impact and overuse injuries such as stress fractures. We all know that calcium helps to protect bones, but did you know that you need adequate levels of vitamin D to absorb the trace mineral? Vitamin D stimulates calcium absorption in the gut and, while the most common source of the fat-soluble vitamin is sunlight exposure, vitamin D is also available in a few foods. Our go-to choice is fatty fish like salmon – it’s a good source of omega 3, which can help to increase absorption from calcium-rich green veg like broccoli, so munch on this duo regularly to improve skeletal health.