Who needs steroids when you have beets? Some foods that may dramatically (and naturally) enhance your performance in the gym. Not only are you feeding your body wholesome nutrition, but you’re also helping your body to crush your exercise goals, build muscle faster, and burn fat more efficiently, so you lose weight quicker.
1. Beets
This red root vegetable is rich in nitrates. These nitrates can enhance your circulatory system, helping blood to get to where it needs to go better. Studies have found that eating beets or drinking beet juice can help fight off exercise-related fatigue, and help your blood stay more oxygenated so you can run faster or push harder.
However, the nitrates need to build up in your system. Enjoy roasted beets as a side, or cold beets on a salad, every day for a week before you can expect to see results. You can also juice beets and sip the juice in the gym to stay hydrated.
2. Maca
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a plant grown high in the Andes mountains in Peru. It’s been cultivated for centuries, and its roots are prized for their health value when the root is dried and powdered.
The root is a rich source of iron. This can improve your cardiovascular health, boosting your performance on the treadmill, while walking, or when doing any other form of aerobic exercise.
Maca is also a great source of calcium, which your muscles need for proper contractions. Taking maca can help you see faster results in building muscle, and the more lean muscle you have, the more calories you burn while at rest.
Finally, sports enthusiasts enjoy maca because it can boost both stamina and energy, helping you to work out longer and harder, so you burn fat more and more.
3. Salmon
There’s nothing fishy about this health tip. Salmon and other oily fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats reduce inflammation, so you’re less sore after a workout and can return to the gym faster with enhanced exercise recovery. Salmon is also an excellent source of easily digestible protein, boosting your muscle growth.
