Pros of Organic Energy Bars for Athletes
Nutrition is one of the most important factors when it comes to creating and sustaining energy, especially for athletes. Getting the right nutrients and staying hydrated can make a significant difference in performance and recovery. This is where Kate’s Real Food comes in—with healthy energy bars for athletes, made from real food ingredients and designed to provide you with sustainable energy when you need it most.
What Foods/Ingredients Are Essential for Athletes?
A healthy, balanced diet consists mainly of whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein. Although individually are important, they are most effective when combined. Our nutrition blog breaks down why timing your meals before and after a workout can also help maintain energy levels and assist with recovery.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are a reliable source of fuel for both our bodies and brains. Complex carbohydrates, such as organic oats, brown rice, whole wheat bread and pasta, and fresh fruit are particularly useful for maintaining sustainable energy. Athletes need to make sure to eat enough carbohydrates before and after a workout, especially a high-intensity event. Without sufficient carb intake, athletic performance may decrease which can affect an athlete’s ability to build muscle.
Fat
While carbs are best for intense exercise, healthy fats are great for providing energy during moderate to medium exercise, and also during rest. It’s best to avoid saturated fats like butter, beef, and pork. However, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are great for your body. This includes lean meats, extra virgin olive oil, nut butters, and fish.
Protein
Protein is essential for muscle growth, strength and endurance. It also oxygenates the blood, creates digestive enzymes, regulates hunger hormones, and helps the body repair itself. Meat, dairy, beans, nuts, and legumes are great sources of protein. To get the maximum benefits of protein, it’s best to combine it with healthy carbohydrates and fats.
Water
Water is not technically a food group, but it’s worth mentioning the importance of keeping hydrated. Adult bodies are roughly 60% water, and is essential for every cell in our body to grow, reproduce, and survive. Adults should be consuming between 2-3 liters of water every day. Fortunately, we can consume water from the food we eat, as well as other beverages.
Why Is Organic Food Important for Athletes?
Eating organic food is recommended for all bodies, but athletes in particular need to be more mindful of the foods they consume. When you consume organic foods, you can feel more confident about what you’re eating-real, whole food without any added mystery ingredients. You will also receive more nutrients from whole, organic foods that have not been overly processed.
Energy Bars for Athletes
Now that we’ve covered some of the essentials when it comes to nutrition for athletes, how do we make sure we’re getting all of these nutrients in our diets? Eating healthy can be particularly difficult when life gets busy. We often don’t stop to prepare healthy meals, choosing instead to grab a meal replacement bar or energy bar between activities. This is why choosing the right energy bars for athletes is an important decision.
We recommend looking for an energy bar made with organic, high-quality ingredients that is designed for a strong body and a strong mind. Healthy energy bars for athletes contain ingredients like organic fruits, brown rice, organic oats, fiber, and organic nut butters. Try to avoid bars with added sugar and preservatives so you don’t experience an energy crash in the middle of a game.
Kate’s Real Food
Kate’s Real Food bars are made with real, organic ingredients and sweetened naturally with honey. You can feel confident you’re giving your body the nutrients and fuel it craves. You can easily enjoy them at the park, during a commute, or on a mountain. Whatever your adventure, our energy bars will help you fuel up, satisfy hunger, and provide you with important nutrients to support your diet.