Hello, Healthy
If you’ve been to The Smoothie Shop & Supplements, you know the smoothies are delicious but today I want to tell you why it’s a good idea to have a smoothie after your workout. When your body is physically active, you burn calories, obviously. But there are some other things that happen within your body as well. As soon as you stop your activity, your body begins to repair or replace damaged muscle fibers. This happens at the cellular level. The muscle fibers are fused together to form new muscle protein strands. Over time, these strands increase in thickness and quantity to create muscle growth. This process depletes glycogen stores, so replacing it right away is helpful. The carbohydrates in a smoothie are a great way to replace glycogen and aid that cellular process of muscle fiber repair.
By adding protein (also in your smoothie), you can maximize glycogen synthesis, as well as protein synthesis and reduce protein degradation, all helpful for building lean muscle mass and making the most of your workout! Smoothies are a great way to boost what your body is doing by giving it exactly what it needs when it needs it. Not only that, but studies also show that using a protein/carbohydrate supplement like a protein-based smoothie immediately after a workout can actually improve performance during your next workout! It does this by improving aerobic endurance and limiting exercise muscle damage.
So, a smoothie can help make the most of the workout you just did and improve the workout you do next time? I think it’s safe to say that a trip to The Smoothie Shop & Supplements after your workout is a pretty good idea!
-Amy Denker, MS, RD, LD
More about me:
I attended Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nutrition and Exercise. I went on to earn a Master’s of Science degree in Dietetics and Nutrition and completed the Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
I was the Nutrition Services Clinical Coordinator at Crittenton Children’s Center for over 5 years before changing my focus to raising my family. I am excited to now be involved with a company that is focused on providing healthy options for customers as well as providing education and resources for customers to make informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones!
