The body is inflamed and filled with lactic acid after an intense workout, so my primary goal is recovery!
I look for something that has both a bit of carbohydrates and also protein. The body needs carbs to restore glycogen (the muscles’ main source of energy) and protein to repair muscle damage.
I generally rely on a post-workout shake that I take right after I finished an intense workout (there is a 45 minute window), and I generally have some Shakeology, or Isolate Whey Protein and BCAA if I did some heavy lifting. The idea of snacking is to squash hunger after an intense workout and give muscles what they need to grow and repair .
You can also look for food that is high in potassium, like bananas or oranges. Potassium reserves will inevitably be sapped from an intense workout session, so this nutrient, along with sodium and calcium, is a key mineral which plays a role in muscular energy.
