Health Watch is a public service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Health Watch, we're talking about health issues related to working out. Exercise is great for your body, but you need to feed your body to get the most out of your workout. Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says you need to eat before and after a workout for best results.

You need to eat carbohydrates 30 to 60 minutes before a workout so you have fuel for your muscles. Exercising on an empty stomach means your body has to break down muscle for fuel, which slows your metabolism. Eating before exercise also delays fatigue for better performance. Then 60 to 90 minutes after a workout you need a meal high in carbohydrates and moderate in protein. That provides calories as well as helping repair muscle tissue broken down by exercise.

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September 2006

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