King Cake and Milk.. A Good Fuel Source ??

I was feeling pretty guilty about eating the few pieces of fruit I had for brunch the other morning... that WAS until I read this timely article. It is refreshing to know that foods HIGH in carbs can be a great post workout fuel source... read on



http://www.nola.com/health/index.ssf/2011/02/king_cake_and_milk_can_be_a_go.html
(PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THE BLOG FOR THE FULL STORY !


Eating sugary carbs right after a long or intense workout helps replace the muscle fuel burned during exercise. Including a source of protein helps reduce muscle damage and speed its repair. Electrolytes (think sodium, potassium, calcium) help replenish what you lost during exercise.

King cake is high in sugary carbs, but it lacks the protein and electrolytes of chocolate milk. So a slice of king cake plus a glass of low-fat (white) milk provides a good carbohydrate-protein ratio, and you get the benefits of milk’s electrolytes.

A three-inch slice of king cake plus a 16-ounce glass of 1-percent milk has about 500 calories,

70 grams of carbohydrate, and 22 grams of protein — pretty close to what’s recommended for post-workout fueling. You don’t need to focus on eating for recovery unless exercise is long (at least 60 to 90 minutes), intense, or will be followed closely by another exercise session. Otherwise you risk adding unwanted calories and sugars and an unwanted layer of padding around your midsection.

. . . . . . .

Molly Kimball is a registered dietitian in New Orleans. Her column appears every Friday in Living and her nutrition video blog appears every Tuesday on nola.com/health. She can be reached at eatingright@timespicayune.com.