6 Best Foods to Fuel Your Active Lifestyle

Do you make food choices that support your pro cheer goals? Whether you are a pro cheer audition candidate or are already part of a dance team, you live an active lifestyle. That said, you need foods that will keep you physically active and focused so you can keep up with the demands of the sport and your daily life.

Here’s a list of the six foods to include in your active diet plan.

1. Salmon

Salmon is considered to be a power food for athletes. It’s a good source of omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce muscle pain and soreness. Salmon also contains proteins to promote muscle repair. Be sure to make it part of your post-workout food choices.

2. Dark chocolate

Here’s a quick pick-me-up that boosts your mood and energy and beats that afternoon slump: dark chocolate. You get the benefits of dark chocolate because of its caffeine content. The darker, the better. Limit yourself to 1 to 2 ounces a day to avoid indigestion and heartburn.

3. Whole-grain bread

The next time you go grocery shopping, skip white bread and choose whole-grain instead. Whole-grain bread is less refined, contains fewer calories, and is an excellent provider of manganese -- a mineral that helps in energy production. People who feel tired all the time are usually deficient in manganese.

4. Lemon juice

Lemon juice or lemon water is an excellent drink for your active lifestyle. Why? It contains high levels of vitamin C. If you didn’t know, vitamin C boosts blood flow throughout your body, thereby improving the delivery of oxygen to your tissues. A well-oxygenated body stays alert and active.

5. Nuts

These bite-sized snack foods are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins and minerals. The energy that nuts provide are produced slowly and is enough to sustain you for hours. Examples of these nuts are walnuts, almonds, pecans, and macadamia nuts.

6. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes aren’t just delicious, they also help produce serotonin - a hormone that increases your overall sense of well-being. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts who train intensely eat sweet potatoes because they keep them satisfied for longer periods of time. The antioxidants in potatoes also aid in muscle recovery.

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