The 15 Foods Runners Need
Every Week
for Good Health and Top PerformanceBy
Liz Applegate Ph.D.
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The Best Grocery List of All
Time Most supermarkets stock more than 30,000 items, yet every time we
race up and down the aisles of the grocery store, we toss into our carts the
same 10 to 15 foods. Which isn't such a bad thing, as long as you're taking
home the right foods--ones that will keep you healthy, fuel peak performance,
and easily cook up into lots of delicious meals. So before your next trip to
the grocery store, add the following 15 foods to your must-buy list. Then, when
you get home, use our tips and recipes to easily get them into your diet and
onto your menu.
Add to your cart: Almonds
Runners
should eat a small handful of almonds at least three to five times per week.
Nuts, especially almonds, are an excellent source of vitamin E, an antioxidant
that many runners fall short on because there are so few good food sources of
it. Studies have shown that eating nuts several times per week lowers
circulating cholesterol levels, particularly the artery-clogging LDL type,
decreasing your risk for heart disease. And the form of vitamin E found in
nuts, called gamma-tocopherol (a form not typically found in supplements), may
also help protect against cancer.
Add to your diet: Add almonds and
other nuts to salads or pasta dishes, use as a topping for casseroles, or throw
them into your bowl of hot cereal for extra crunch. Combine with chopped dried
fruit, soy nuts, and chocolate bits for a healthy and tasty trail mix. Almond
butter is perfect spread over whole-grain toast or on a whole-wheat tortilla,
topped with raisins, and rolled up. Store all nuts in jars or zipper bags in a
cool dry place away from sunlight and they'll keep for about two to four
months. Storing them in the freezer will allow them to keep an extra month or
two.
Add to your cart: Eggs
One egg fulfills about 10
percent of your daily protein needs. Egg protein is the most complete food
protein short of human breast milk, which means the protein in eggs contains
all the crucial amino acids your hard-working muscles need to promote recovery.
Eat just one of these nutritional powerhouses and you'll also get about 30
percent of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin K, which is vital for healthy
bones. And eggs contain choline, a brain nutrient that aids memory, and leutin,
a pigment needed for healthy eyes. Choose omega-3 enhanced eggs and you can
also increase your intake of healthy fats. Don't worry too much about the
cholesterol: Studies have shown that egg eaters have a lower risk for heart
disease than those who avoid eggs.
Add to your diet: Whether boiled,
scrambled, poached, or fried (in a nonstick skillet to cut down on the need for
additional fats), eggs are great anytime. Use them as the base for skillet
meals such as frittatas. Or include them in sandwiches, burritos, or wraps as
you would meat fillers. You can also add them to casseroles and soups by
cracking one or two in during the last minute of cooking.
Add to
your cart: Sweet potatoes
This Thanksgiving Day standard should be
on the plates of runners year-round. Just a single 100-calorie sweet potato
supplies over 250 percent of the DV for vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene,
the powerful antioxidant. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of vitamin C,
potassium, iron, and the two trace minerals manganese and copper. Many runners
fail to meet their manganese and copper needs, which can have an impact on
performance since these minerals are crucial for healthy muscle function. There
are even new sweet-potato varieties that have purple skin and flesh and contain
anthocyanidins, the same potent antioxidant found in berries.
Add to
your diet: Sweet potatoes can be baked, boiled, or microwaved. You can fill
them with bean chili, low-fat cheese, and your favorite toppings, or you can
incorporate them into stews and soups. Baked as wedges or disks, sweet potatoes
make delicious oven fries. Don't store sweet potatoes in the fridge because
they will lose their flavor. Instead, stash them in a cool, dark place, and
they should keep for about two weeks.
Add to your cart: Whole-Grain
Cereal with Protein
Look for whole-grain cereals that offer at
least five grams of fiber and at least eight grams of protein. For example, one
cup of Kashi GoLean cereal, which is made from seven different whole grains,
including triticale, rye, and buckwheat, fills you up with a hefty 10 grams of
fiber (that's 40 percent of the DV) and is loaded with heart-healthy
phytonutrients. It also contains soy grits, supplying 13 grams of protein per
serving. If you pour on a cup of milk or soymilk, you'll get 30 to 40 percent
of your protein needs as a runner in one bowl. Other high-protein/high-fiber
cereals include Nature's Path Optimum Rebound and Back to Nature Flax &
Fiber Crunch.
Add to your diet: Of course whole-grain cereal is
excellent for breakfast--a meal you don't want to skip since research indicates
that those who eat breakfast are healthier, trimmer, and can manage their
weight better than nonbreakfast eaters. Cereal also makes a great postrun
recovery meal with its mix of carbohydrates and protein. Or you can sprinkle
whole-grain cereal on top of your yogurt, use it to add crunch to casseroles,
or tote it along in a zip bag.
Add to your cart: Oranges
Eat enough oranges and you may experience less muscle soreness after hard
workouts such as downhill running. Why? Oranges supply over 100 percent of the
DV for the antioxidant vitamin C, and a recent study from the University of
North Carolina Greensboro showed that taking vitamin C supplements for two
weeks prior to challenging arm exercises helped alleviate muscle soreness. This
fruit's antioxidant powers also come from the compound herperidin found in the
thin orange-colored layer of the fruit's skin (the zest). Herperidin has been
shown to help lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure as well.
Add to your diet: Add orange sections to fruit and green salads, or use
the orange juice and pulp for sauces to top chicken, pork, or fish. And to
benefit from the antioxidant herperidin, use the orange zest in baking and
cooking, as with my Grilled Herbed Salmon recipe (above). Select firm, heavy
oranges, and store them in the fridge for up to three weeks. Orange zest can be
stored dried in a glass jar for about a week if kept in a cool place.
Add to your cart: Canned Black Beans
One cup of these beauties
provides 30 percent of the DV for protein, almost 60 percent of the DV for
fiber (much of it as the cholesterol-lowering soluble type), and 60 percent of
the DV for folate, a B vitamin that plays a key role in heart health and
circulation. Black beans also contain antioxidants, and researchers theorize
that this fiber-folate-antioxidant trio is why a daily serving of beans appears
to lower cholesterol levels and heart-disease risk. In addition, black beans
and other legumes are low glycemic index (GI) foods, meaning the carbohydrate
in them is released slowly into the body. Low GI foods can help control blood
sugar levels and may enhance performance because of their steady release of
energy.
Add to your diet: For a quick, hearty soup, open a can of
black beans and pour into chicken or vegetable stock along with frozen mixed
veggies and your favorite seasonings. Mash beans with salsa for an instant dip
for cut veggies, or spread onto a whole-wheat tortilla for a great recovery
meal. Add beans to cooked pasta or rice for extra fiber and protein.
Add to your cart: Mixed Salad Greens
Rather than selecting one
type of lettuce for your salad, choose mixed greens, which typically offer five
or more colorful delicate greens such as radicchio, butter leaf, curly endive,
and mache. Each variety offers a unique blend of phytonutrients that research
suggests may fend off age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's, cancer, heart
disease, and diabetes. These phytonutrients also act as antioxidants, warding
off muscle damage brought on by tough workouts. You can usually buy mixed
greens in bulk or prewashed in bags.
Add to your diet: Toss a mixed
greens salad with tomato, cucumber, scallions, and an olive oil-based dressing
(the fat from the oil helps your body absorb the phytonutrients). You can also
stuff mixed greens in your sandwiches, wraps, and tacos. Or place them in a
heated skillet, toss lightly until wilted, and use as a bed for grilled salmon,
chicken, or lean meat. Greens store best in a salad spinner or the crisper
drawer in your fridge for up to six days. Just don't drench them in water or
they won't keep as long.
Add to you cart: Salmon
Nutrition-wise, salmon is the king of fish. Besides being an excellent source
of high-quality protein (you get about 30 grams in a four-ounce serving),
salmon is one of the best food sources of omega-3 fats. These essential fats
help balance the body's inflammation response, a bodily function that when
disturbed appears to be linked to many diseases including asthma. A recent
study showed that people with exercise-induced asthma saw an improvement in
symptoms after three weeks of eating more fish oil. If you've been limiting
seafood due to possible mercury or PCB contamination, simply aim for a variety
of farm-raised and wild salmon for maximum health benefits.
Add to
your diet: Bake, grill, or poach salmon with fresh herbs and citrus zest. Gauge
cooking time by allotting 10 minutes for every inch of fish (steaks or
fillets). Salmon should flake when done. Precooked (leftover) or canned salmon
is great in salads, tossed into pasta, stirred into soups, or on top of pizza.
Fresh fish keeps one to two days in the fridge, or you can freeze it in a
tightly sealed container for about four to five months.
Add to your
cart: Whole-Grain Bread
Runners need at least three to six
one-ounce servings of whole grains per day, and eating 100 percent whole-grain
bread (as opposed to just whole-grain bread, which may contain some refined
grains and flours) is an easy way to meet this requirement since one slice
equals one serving. Whole-grain bread may also help weight-conscious runners.
One study showed that women who eat whole-grain bread weigh less than those who
eat refined white bread and other grains. Whole-grain eaters also have a 38
percent lower risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome, which is characterized
by belly fat, low levels of the good cholesterol, and high blood sugar levels.
All this raises the risk for heart disease and cancer.
Add to your
diet: Bread is versatile, portable, and ready to eat right out of the wrapper.
Spread with peanut butter or stuff with your favorite sandwich fillings and
plenty of sliced veggies for a one-handed recovery meal. Coat with a beaten egg
for French toast, or use as layers or crumbled in a casserole. Just be sure the
label says 100 percent whole grain (all the grains and flours included in the
ingredients should be listed as whole, not milled or refined). And don't just
stick with the popular 100 percent whole-wheat breads. Try different varieties
of whole grains such as barley, buckwheat, bulgur, rye, or oat.
Add
to your cart: Frozen Stir-fry Vegetables
Research shows that
eating a combination of antioxidants, such as beta-carotene and vitamin C, may
lessen muscle soreness after hard interval workouts by reducing the
inflammation caused by free-radical damage (for more on this, see "Should You
Be Afraid of Free Radicals," page 61). Most ready-to-use stir-fry veggie combos
offer a potent mix of antioxidants by including red and yellow peppers, onions,
bok choy, and soy beans. And frozen vegetable mixes save lots of prepping time
but still provide the same nutrition as their fresh counterparts.
Add
to your diet: Dump the frozen vegetables right into a hot wok or skillet, add
tofu, seafood, or meat, your favorite stir-fry sauce, and serve over brown
rice. Or throw them into pasta water during the last few minutes of cooking,
drain, and toss with a touch of olive oil. You can also mix the frozen veggies
right into soups or stews at the end of cooking, or thaw them and add to
casseroles. Vegetables store well in the freezer for about four months, so make
sure to date your bags.
Add to your cart: Whole-grain Pasta
Pasta has long been a runner's best friend because it contains easily
digestible carbs that help you restock spent glycogen (energy) stores.
Whole-grain versions are a must over refined pastas because they contain more
fiber to fill you up, additional B vitamins that are crucial to energy
metabolism, and disease-fighting compounds such as lignans. And even better,
pastas such as Barilla Plus offer whole-grain goodness along with heart-healthy
omega-3 fats from ground flaxseed and added protein from a special formula of
ground lentils, multigrains, and egg whites to help with muscle repair and
recovery.
Add to your diet: Pasta makes a complete one-pot
meal--perfect for busy runners--when tossed with veggies, lean meat, seafood,
or tofu. Or combine pasta with a light sauce, a bit of your favorite cheese,
and turn it into a satisfying casserole.
Add to your cart:
Chicken
Runners need about 50 to 75 percent more protein than
nonrunners to help rebuild muscles and promote recovery after tough workouts.
And just one four-ounce serving of chicken can supply about half a runner's
daily protein needs. Along with protein, chicken contains selenium, a trace
element that helps protect muscles from the free-radical damage that can occur
during exercise, and niacin, a B vitamin that helps regulate fat burning during
a run. New studies also suggest that people who get ample niacin in their diet
have a 70 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Add
to your diet: Chicken's versatility makes it perfect for runners with little
time to cook. You can bake, broil, grill, or poach chicken in broth. Leftover
chicken works well on top of salads, mixed into pasta, or stuffed into
sandwiches and burritos. Fresh chicken stores safely for two days in the
fridge, but can be frozen for six months or more.
Add to your cart:
Frozen Mixed Berries
The colorful compounds that make blueberries
blue, blackberries deep purple, and raspberries a rich shade of red are called
anthocyanins--a powerful group of antioxidants that may help stave off
Alzheimer's disease and some cancers. Anthocyanins may also assist with postrun
recovery and muscle repair. Not bad for a fruit group that contains a mere 60
calories or so per cup. And remember: Frozen berries are just as nutritious as
fresh ones, but they keep far longer (up to nine months in the freezer), making
it easier to always have them ready to eat.
Add to your diet: Frozen
berries make a great base for a smoothie and there's no need to thaw them. Once
thawed, eat them straight up or add to some vanilla yogurt with chopped nuts.
Or liven up your hot or cold cereal with a big handful. You can also bake
berries with a nutty topping of oatmeal, honey, and chopped almonds for a sweet
treat after a long weekend run.
Add to your cart: Dark
Chocolate
As a runner you deserve at least one
indulgence--especially one you can feel so good about. Chocolate contains
potent antioxidants called flavonols that can boost heart health. In one study,
a group of soccer players had lower blood pressure and total cholesterol
levels, and less artery-clogging LDL cholesterol after just two weeks of eating
chocolate daily. Other research suggests that the chocolate flavonols ease
inflammation and help prevent blood substances from becoming sticky, which
lowers the risk of potential blood clots. But not just any chocolate will do.
First off, dark chocolate (the darker the better) generally contains more
flavonols than milk chocolate. Also, the way the cocoa beans are processed can
influence the potency of the flavonols. Chocolate manufacturer Mars has
developed a procedure that apparently retains much of the antioxidant powers of
the flavonols, and their research shows just a little over an ounce (200
calories worth) of Dove dark chocolate per day has heart-healthy benefits.
Add to your diet: Besides the obvious (just eat it!), you can add dark
chocolate to trail mix, dip it in peanut butter (my favorite), or combine it
with fruit for an even greater antioxidant punch. Just keep track of the
calories. Buy chocolate wrapped in small pieces to help with portion
control.
Add to your cart: Low-fat Yogurt
Besides
being a good source of protein and calcium (one cup provides 13 grams of
protein and 40 percent of the DV for calcium), low-fat yogurt with live
cultures provides the healthy bacteria your digestive tract needs to function
optimally. This good bacteria may also have anti-inflammatory powers that can
offer some relief to arthritis suffers. Just look for the live-culture symbol
on the yogurt carton.
Add to your diet: Low-fat yogurt is great topped
with fruit, granola, or nuts, or used as a base for smoothies. Plain yogurt can
be mixed with diced cucumber and herbs like dill and spread over grilled tofu,
chicken, fish, and other meats. Yogurt can also double as a salad dressing with
vinegar and herbs. Or mix it with fresh salsa to stand in as a dip for veggies
and baked chips.
Copyright © 2006
Rodale Inc. All rights reserved. |
