Fact or Myth? Eating Protein After a Workout Will Build Muscle
Answer: Myth
"That's definitely a myth," said Elisabetta Politi, a nutrition director at the Duke University Diet & Fitness Center. "What you need after a workout are carbohydrates."
When you work out, your body uses the glycogen stored in your muscles and liver. Glycogen is made from carbohydrates like glucose.
The exhaustion you feel after a workout, Politi said, is because of a lack of glycogen.
"The best way to be reenergized is to eat carbohydrates," she said.
Protein is helpful in toning existing muscle. However, Politi notes, the average American eats twice the necessary amount of protein already.
"If [you're] eating an average diet, [you're] probably getting plenty of protein," she said.
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