Exercise is often thought of as the best (and most effective) way to look and feel your best. For a good reason–science continues to show that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve longevity, build stronger bones, and boost mental health. While regular exercise is something we should all strive for, this is only part of the health and wellness equation. What you put on your plate also significantly affects your overall health, performance, and recovery. By eating a balanced diet tailored to your specific energy and nutrient needs, you can elevate your workouts and how you feel.
But you don’t need to be an elite athlete to reap the benefits of good nutrition and exercise! Before diving into how food and supplements can maximize your workout routine, let’s explore what exercise is, how much you should do, and some health benefits.
What is exercise?
By definition, exercise is classified as any movement that exerts your muscles and requires your body to burn calories [1]. There are many different types of exercise, such as:
Cardiovascular. This is defined as any exercise that elevates your heart rate for a prolonged period. Some examples include swimming, running, jogging, walking, and dancing.
Resistance training. Otherwise referred to as strength or weight training, resistance training builds strength, anaerobic endurance, and the size of skeletal muscles. You can do resistance training with bodyweight exercises or weighted dumbbells, machines, or barbells.
HIIT. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involves alternating short bouts of intense exercise at maximum or near-maximum effort (like sprinting, jumping, and intense strength training) with short recovery periods, repeatedly until the point of exhaustion.
Flexibility. Exercises like yoga, tai chi, dynamic stretching, and pilates can decrease the risk of injury, minimize soreness, and improve your range of motion.
Exercise recommendations
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity/day, 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity/week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise/week for improved health and wellness [2].
However, the American College of Sports Medicine states that 150 to 250 minutes of exercise/week can yield modest weight-loss results if you want to lose weight. Conversely, getting >250 minutes of exercise per week has been associated with clinically significant weight loss [3,8].
If you have a specific goal like running a half-marathon or completing a triathlon, you will likely exceed these recommendations to prepare for the event; however, you will also need to incorporate extra rest and recovery strategies to prevent overtraining.
Before embarking on a new exercise routine, it’s recommended to see a healthcare provider first.
Benefits of exercise
Exercise has benefits that go far beyond physical physique. Here’s what science has to say about how consistent movement impacts your health.
Longevity.
Studies show that people who consistently exercise experience a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and are less likely to die sooner than those who live a sedentary lifestyle [5]. In addition, the CDC estimates 10% of all deaths among Americans 40-70 years old are attributed to a lack of movement [4].
However, research suggests that just 11 minutes of movement each day may be enough to positively impact your lifespan, regardless of your past activity levels [5]. For example, studies indicate that people who increased their activity levels over time had a lower mortality rate than those who lived a sedentary and consistently inactive lifestyle [6].
Weight management.
It is well known that physical activity can help with weight management and weight loss. However, exercise alone isn’t enough to maintain a healthy weight; what you put on your fork also plays a factor.
Exercise’s impact on weight management or weight loss revolves around energy homeostasis. For instance, if you’re looking to lose weight, then the number of calories consumed should be less than the calories burned, and since it takes 3,500 calories (on average) to burn one pound, this means both diet and exercise play important roles in weight loss [7]. However, your dietary intake and exercise output should be equivalent if you want to maintain a healthy weight.
Your energy needs are unique to you and your body, so talk with your healthcare provider to find the right exercise and nutrition combination for you.
Better sleep.
Studies have shown that exercise may decrease the time it takes to fall asleep, alleviate daytime sleepiness, and possibly reduce the need for sleep medications [9]. Researchers also found that people who engaged in light, moderate, or vigorous activity >3 times/week were more likely to sleep more than 7 hours and experience better sleep quality during the week compared to those who exercised less than once per week [42].
Stronger bones.
Weight-bearing activity (such as body weight exercises or weight lifting) has been shown to increase bone formation, protect bone health in older adults, and enhance bone strength over time. Additionally, research indicates that older men and women who perform weight-bearing exercises are more likely to experience a positive increase in bone mineral density, bone strength, and bone size, as well as reductions in markers of bone turnover and inflammation [10,11,12].
Resistance training may also prove beneficial against bone loss in younger and older women, including those with osteoporosis, osteopenia, or breast cancer [13,14].
Reduced risk of chronic disease.
Regular physical activity may help prevent chronic disease, as numerous studies show its importance in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes [15,16,17,18]. However, you don’t need to be an elite athlete to reap these benefits; sticking to a regular, consistent exercise routine over time is also incredibly beneficial.
Improved mental health.
Studies show that 89% of people who participated in regular physical activity experienced a positive impact on depression, anxiety, stress levels, and general mental health [19]. As such, researchers believe that exercise may have immediate and long-term benefits for people with anxiety [19].
Learn more about how nutrition impacts mood, focus, and brain health.
Nutrition’s impact on exercise
While exercise is beneficial for many aspects of your health, nutrition also plays an essential role in boosting performance and helping you feel your best. Here’s how you can level up your nutrition to boost health and get the most out of your workouts.
Protein
Protein (and protein powders) offer a wide range of health benefits, including increased exercise performance, reduced muscle damage, faster tissue repair, weight management, and muscle gain [20,21,22]. Additionally, protein is vital for stimulating post-workout muscle protein synthesis and can be used to offset muscle loss during weight loss.
According to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), you need at least 0.8 g of protein/kg of body weight/day to meet the body’s most fundamental nutritional needs [23]. However, physical activity can increase these needs to 1.2–2.0 g of protein/kg of body weight/day [24].
Some dietary sources include:
Poultry (chicken and turkey)
Red meat (beef and lamb)
Fish
Dairy
Legumes
Eggs
Tofu
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the most efficient macronutrient group for working muscles because they provide quick, usable energy and help load and replenish muscle glycogen stores [25,26]. Moreover, complex carbohydrates play a crucial role in digestion and regular bowel movements, cholesterol maintenance, weight management, appetite control, blood sugar regulation, reduced risk of certain chronic diseases, enhanced satiety, and longevity [45,46].
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that 45% to 65% of total daily calories should come from carbs, but you can also match your daily carbohydrate intake to the energy requirements of your workout, which can range between 5-12 g/kg of body weight/day [27,28,47].
Some dietary sources of complex carbs include:
Whole grains (quinoa, barley, brown rice, popcorn, and oats)
Legumes (lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, green peas, and split peas)
Starchy vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn)
High fiber fruits (berries, avocado, guava, bananas, oranges and apples)
Heart-healthy fats
Not all fats are created equal. While saturated and trans-fats have been tied to adverse health outcomes, healthy fats (like omega-3s, mono- and polyunsaturated fats) may help reduce inflammation, improve total cholesterol levels, and stabilize heart rhythms [29,30,31]. Healthy fats can also enhance satiety, help you maintain a healthy weight, and provide essential vitamins and minerals for overall health [32].
The dietary reference intake (DRI) for fat in adults is 20% to 35% of total calories from fat, with 15-20% and 5-10% coming from mono- and polyunsaturated fats, respectively [33].
Some dietary sources of heart-healthy fats include:
Nuts
Seeds
Avocados
Olive oil
Salmon and fatty fish
Fluid
A single exercise session can leave you parched, foggy, and nauseous if you don't replenish your fluids. Dehydration can compromise exercise performance and lead to dangerous health consequences, so it’s essential to ensure that you stay hydrated before, during, and after your workout. Adequate fluid intake also helps regulate body temperature, reduce cardiovascular strain and improve recovery [43].
Daily fluid intake recommendations vary by age, sex, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status, but you can monitor your urine color as an approximation of hydration status. Urine that is lemonade-colored or lighter generally means that you’re hydrated, whereas dark yellow urine is a sign of dehydration.
While water is best, sports drinks can prove beneficial during and after more prolonged endurance activities since they contain a combination of water (for hydration), carbohydrates (for quick-burning fuel), and electrolytes (to offset those lost in sweat).
Caloric intake
While everyone’s caloric needs are different, it can be helpful to use a tool such as the National Institute of Health’s Body Weight Planner calculator to determine your own needs. Thi tool takes into account your height, sex, age, current weight, and activity level to calculate a daily calorie estimate so you can ensure you’re getting enough calories to support your energy output.
Supplements for exercise
A balanced diet consisting of protein, carbs, and healthy fats boost health and fitness, but science shows that supplementation may also prove beneficial. Here are some supplements you may want to consider adding to your daily routine to enhance performance.
Caffeine. Studies show caffeine can improve endurance performance, spare glycogen, promote fat oxidation, reduce fatigue, and decrease perceived effort when consumed before exercise in doses ranging from 3-9 mg/kg body weight [34].
Nitrates. Nitrates from beetroot juice can also assist with endurance performance. For example, consuming nitrates before exercise enhances vasodilation, blood flow, glucose uptake, muscle contraction, and relaxation. Evidence suggests these effects can improve muscle function, cardiorespiratory capacity, and time trial performance, particularly in non-elite athletes [34]. Research also shows that consuming 300-600 mg of nitrates 90 minutes before endurance exercise helps reduce the oxygen cost of exercise, increases time to exhaustion, and improves VO2max [34].
Beta-alanine. Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that can buffer lactic acid production and assist with endurance exercise. One trial showed that 5 g/day beta-alanine supplementation improved 10K running time and reduced lactate concentration in active adults [35].
Creatine. Creatine is a compound of amino acids (including L-arginine, glycine, and L-methionine) naturally found in muscle cells. It supplies energy to your muscles to aid growth, strength, and performance [36]. Studies have shown that creatine combined with weight lifting can increase lean muscle mass gains compared to those who only weight train without supplementation [37,38]. Research has found that your body needs between 1-3 g/day to maintain typical stores of creatine, but athletes may need to consume between 5 and 10 g/day to maintain an optimal capacity [44].
Protein powder. Protein powder is a powdered protein from milk (casein or whey), egg white powder, or plant sources (soy, pea, rice, pumpkin seed, and hemp). This supplement offers many health benefits, including increased exercise performance, reduced muscle damage, and faster tissue repair [39,40,41].
Exercise FAQ
Looking for more? Here are some common questions we get surrounding exercise and nutrition.
Summary
Regular physical activity has long been shown to reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve longevity, build stronger bones, and boost mental health. While exercise can be effective on its own, you can elevate your workout game even more by what you put on your plate. Eating a balanced diet filled with protein, carbs, and healthy fats (while being tailored to your energy needs) will continue to boost your gains, both in and out of the gym.
Disclaimer: The text, images, videos, and other media on this page are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose or replace personalized medical care.
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Issue 32: science-backed weight loss reads
Issue 32: science-backed weight loss reads