Some people like to get their sweat sesh done first thing in the morning, which means they’re working out on an empty stomach. But there’s a debate about whether or not that’s actually a good idea. But according to Alexandra Cook, aka The Sports Dietitian, a registered clinical and sports dietitian, there can be some benefits to working out on an empty stomach, but “it’s very individual” and depends on your goals.
Cook says the biggest pro of exercising before you eat in the morning is that you’d have to “rely on fat stores a lot sooner than if you had readily available energy to use from breakfast.” But if you want to workout on an empty stomach, she advises following two steps to get the benefits and stay healthy and well.
- Eat a high carb and high protein meal after a fasted workout- "It is really important to follow up fasted sessions with a high carbohydrate and high protein meal," Cook explains, because "the body requires extra nutrients post exercise to enable training adaptations to occur."
- Don't work out on an empty stomach too often
Source:Cosmopolitan