What to Eat Before and After Yoga
This is a common question people ask when they start doing yoga. You probably have a handle on what to eat before or after other workouts, like cardio or strength training, but yoga is a bit different. Here are some tips for choosing pre and post-workout snacks when yoga is involved.
Don’t Eat Immediately Before Yoga
It is okay to eat a snack or breakfast an hour or so before yoga, but you should preferably have an empty stomach. If you do yoga in the morning, simply do it before you eat breakfast. For later in the dry, try to schedule it at least an hour after you have eaten something. This will help lower abdominal discomfort and bloating, since you might be bending over and twisting your body, which can cause some stomach discomfort, and also increases the risk of getting gas during your yoga class.
Stick to Lighter Snacks
For pre and post-yoga session foods, stick to lighter and healthier snacks. These are also good to bring along with you to longer yoga classes if you feel lightheaded during the class. Some lighter snacks include a piece of fruit like apple or banana, a handful of almonds or cashews, or a simple protein bar. If you are on a low-carb diet, there is no reason you can’t bring a piece of cheese and some nuts as long as these foods don’t cause bloating or gas for you.
Try Healthier Foods Before or After Yoga
As far as bigger meals, you might end up eating a full meal before or after yoga depending on your schedule. Even if it’s a full meal, still try to stick to the healthier options, whether it means a breakfast of oatmeal with berries and honey, or a lunch with a salad and piece of fruit, or some protein with a big plate of veggies.
Drinking Before or After Yoga
When it comes to what you drink, it doesn’t get much better than water. Plain, filtered water is best since it is clean and doesn’t have any sugar or artificial flavoring that might affect your body or mind. However, if you don’t like the taste of plain water, you can add fruit or vegetables to your water pitcher or water bottle and have natural flavors. Think of fruits like strawberries and blueberries, herbs like mint, and vegetables like cucumber.
These are all easy ways to add natural flavor to your water.