Post Workout Food: Importance of Potassium and Magnesium for Recovery

Post workout food is as important as foods you would have before a workout. But proteins are not the only nutritional food you must have after a workout. Potassium and magnesium too are important for recovery. We tell you why potassium and magnesium are important in your diet and which foods to source it from.

Lack of potassium and magnesium can cause cramps or muscle spasms. After an intense workout, you need potassium and magnesium to avoid leg cramps.Potassium and magnesium are electrolytes that are responsible to lower pH levels in your body, and they influence the amount of water in your body.

High body temperature, sweating and dehydration are some of the reasons for low levels of potassium and magnesium in the body. It often happens during exercise hence it is important to increase these electrolytes after a workout.

Magnesium is an electrolyte that calms your muscle but it also makes you happy. Magnesium also relaxes your muscles and reduces anxiety.

Foods rich in potassium: milk, potatoes, fish, bananas, lima beans and melon.

Dietary recommendations for potassium: 4,700 mg per day

Food rich in magnesium: soy, yogurt, spinach, black beans and avocado.

Dietary recommendations for magnesium:

Women – 310 to 320 mg

Men – 400 to 420 mg

Source: healthmeup.com