Did you know that it’s not what you do in the gym that brings results but how you fuel your body afterward? It’s true, there is a small window of time after you finish your cardio or resistance exercise session when your muscles are starved for nutrition. To ensure complete recuperation from training and to help your muscles fully recover, you have to ingest very specific nutrients in order to create a lean, toned and sexy body.
Unfortunately, many women are sabotaging their gains by not fueling their bodies with the proper nutrients immediately post-exercise.
Protein metabolism expert Professor Michael Rennie from the University of Nottingham, UK suggests that post-workout nutrition is the most crucial time to promote recovery and muscle toning. Multiple research trials have gone on to support this, showing that delaying nutrition after workouts or missing vital nutrients and proteins in the post-workout meal will increase muscle soreness, slow recovery and delay performance and muscle gains. Even with this knowledge, many women still avoid eating after exercise because they fear this will contradict the reason why they work out in the first place by impeding fat burning and weight loss. However, exciting new research shows that a precise combination of muscle toning proteins, amino acids and nutraceuticals can optimize muscle recovery following exercise without promoting unwanted fat gain.
Read: Purest Protein- Leanest Muscle
What about carbs for energy
The instinct of many athletes is to splurge on carbohydrates after exercise as a “reward” for their hard efforts in the gym. While science shows that carbs are helpful for replenishing muscle glycogen our muscles’ fuel source during exercise–high amounts of sugars contained in sports drinks also bring fat burning to an immediate halt by spiking the fat storage hormone insulin. New research shows that quick replenishment of carb stores is most helpful for athletes training multiple times daily or performing long duration endurance bouts. However, for anyone trying to lose weight or maximize muscle toning, ingestion of proteins and amino acids appears to be more crucial for recovery.
Fueling muscle with leucine
Most everyone knows that proteins regenerate and repair muscles after damaging exercise as well as boost fat burning metabolism and support satiety. But you may be surprised to learn that not all protein is created equal. In fact, many postworkout supplements today are under-dosed in protein or contain poor sources that do not optimally fuel your muscles. To elaborate, scientists have been able to identify exactly which amino acids contained in proteins are responsible for muscle repair and growth and how to optimize their absorption. Studies show that the branched chain amino acid (BCAA) leucine is largely responsible for muscle toning. Therefore, consuming free form amino acids, particularly leucine, may be paramount to recovery after exercise.
Read: Red Carpet Figure In 12 Hours
An additional new technology involves the use of predigested proteins. The reason for this is that the body has to break down proteins into amino acids and di- and tri-peptides (2-3 amino acid chains) in order to absorb them. Research now shows that consumption of hydrolyzed proteins with high concentrations of di- and tri-peptides results in greater muscle toning, improved recovery and decreased muscle soreness relative to traditional whole protein sources. Moreover, studies demonstrate that a combination of free leucine and hydrolyzed proteins results in faster absorption and muscle recovery through utilization of dual portal absorption systems.
Nutrient delivery control
Regulation of insulin and blood glucose is also important after exercise. You want to improve your muscles’ sensitivity to nutrients so that they absorb them optimally. A novel ingredient used for this purpose is 4-hydroxyisoleucine, an amino acid extracted from fenugreek seeds and guanidinopropionic acid that helps stabilize both insulin and blood sugar control. The essential mineral chromium picolinate also helps sensitize your muscles to insulin signaling, thereby enhancing glucose uptake.
Non-fattening post-workout nutrition
With all this in mind, MHP developed Dark Matter Zero Carb Concentrate, which is designed to optimize postworkout muscle recovery without interfering with the fat burning fueled by your exercise–targeting it for dieters. Dark Matter Concentrate features a leucine-loaded 10:1:1 BCAA ratio, fast digesting hydrolyzed wheat proteins, potent nutrient delivery enhancers including 4-hydroxyisoleucine as well as other synergistic amino acids and nutrients proven to optimize recovery and muscle toning. Dark Matter Concentrate is able to provide this increase in muscle glycogen and boost recovery without any fattening carbs. So it doesn’t add calories or sugar that will counteract your weight loss diet but still provides the post-workout recovery benefits.
Suggested Reads
More from Healthy Living Magazine:
- Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide: Weight Loss Benefits Explained
- Intermittent Fasting vs Ozempic: What You Need to Know
- 7 Morning Habits That Naturally Boost Your Energy
- The Best Time of Day to Eat Citrus for Energy and Digestion
External Resources:
- What are proteins and what do they do?
- Protein and exercise
- Optimal Protein Intake Guide & Calculator
Noah Rodriguez
Noah cuts through the noise with honest, practical advice for modern men who want to stay sharp, strong, and sane.
