What You Need to Know About Nutrient Timing

ACE Fitness Professional, Justin Robinson writes:

Your workout is complete and now the real race begins. As you wipe off the last bead of sweat from your forehead, you rush to the locker room to grab your shaker bottle. Your “anabolic window” is closing so you chug your protein mix before you even sit down to catch your breath.

Does this sound familiar? As trainers and athletes, we have been told for years that nutrient timing is crucial and that we are “wasting our workout” unless we ingest a post-workout shake immediately. The classic nutrient timing train of thought has been to consume carbohydrate before a workout and protein afterward. While this approach is logical, is it supported by current research?

Some may argue that we actually have it backwards, and that protein is more effective prior to a workout. Furthermore, timing is not crucial as long as we consume adequate calories and nutrients within a 24-hour period.

To help clear up some of the confusion, here’s what you need to know about nutrient timing.

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