Bodybuilding Secret! Start Your Day With Fruit
Fruit has been called everything from God’s dessert to Sugar antichrist, so what’s the real deal? The benefits of fruit (aside from tasting really good) include providing a good source of fiber and multiple nutrients. The reason why it is avoided by many dieters is due to the high fructose (sugar) content.
Fructose has to first be converted in the liver into a form of carbohydrate called glycogen before the muscles can use it. That’s where the potential problems can happen, according to an article in Muscle & Fitness. (Read the full article here.)
“The problem with fructose arises when the liver glycogen levels are full. At this point, fructose gets converted to fat and that helps to increase the size of the fat cells.” No one really knows what their liver levels are, which is why some bodybuilders and dieters avoid fruit all together. But you really don’t have to do that. Here’s the bodybuilding secret: It’s the timing of fruit consumption that matters.
Eating fruit immediately upon waking is a good thing because it will help you keep your muscle tone.
Muscle & Fitness explains, “While you sleep, your liver burns up its glycogen to supply needed glucose to the brain during your nightly fast. When liver glycogen levels begin to dip a signal is sent to the brain to start breaking down muscle protein to convert amino acids into glucose for the brain. When you wake in the morning you are a muscle-burning machine. At this time of day you will not have to worry about fructose being converted to fat, so eat up. The fructose will be put to good use for restocking the liver glycogen levels and switching off the signal to burn muscle protein.”
So don’t be afraid of fruit! Enjoy it first thing and then eat your well-balanced breakfast a little later.
What’s your favorite breakfast fruit? Mine is grapefruit. Yum!
Lisa
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Berries, always berries. I have them in a morning smoothie. This is great to hear. Thanks for sharing!
I love berries too. I’m glad M&F came out with this. Fruit gets such a bad rep!
I remember the first time I had grapefruit. I was in 3rd grade at a birthday party. I thought it was foul, even with added sugar (gasp)! I’ve tried it a few times since then but never really got to like it. Then it was one of the fruits I had to avoid while on the dozens of meds I’ve tried for my headaches. I probably should try it again. I wonder if you can get it in Scotland? I say that b/c I can’t get some things like sunflower butter that tastes good and spaghetti squash as well.
My favourite fruits are berries and grapes. I love to add frozen berries to smoothies.
That’s interesting that food plays a part in headaches. My friend had to avoid chocolate because it triggered his migraines.
I love berries too!
Blackberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Pears and Pink Grapefruit…oh and McIntosh Apples. YUM! After reading your post, I allowed myself the permission for a huge handful of blueberries (it is 9:30 am after all)
oh, watermelon and cantaloupe and pineapple too
Good for you! Plus, you’re eating for two 🙂
Raspberries, kiwi and ruby red grapefruit. None of which I ever seem to eat in the morning! Gonna have to work on that!
My son and I will make a mad dash for the last raspberries. They’re so good!
Fresh pineapple (when we can find it), otherwise blueberries.
I love pineapple in my Greek yogurt. Yum!