# What should you eat after you workout and how **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963 "2005-01-10T00:55:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/1 "2005-01-10T00:55:12Z")
Is there a timeframe after a workout where you are supposed to eat a particular kind of thing (aside from the obvious like protein)? I have heard of people combining large doses of protein with high GI carbohydrates like maltose because they assumed an insulin spike with a high GI food will carry the protein to the muscles. What else is there to know about post workout nutrition like how long afterwards should you wait, how much protein should you eat and should you combine it with anything else. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/2 "2005-01-10T01:15:30Z")
This really belongs in GQ. Anyway, yes, there is a post-workout window when your muscles are particularly sensitive to nutrients. Dr. John Berardi is one of the foremost experts on the topic, so you can Google for him. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/3 "2005-01-10T02:13:00Z")
Definately. Best things are liquids that are easy to digest. You don’t want lots of fats and you want simple sugars that are easy to break down and replentish your glycogen stores. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/4 "2005-01-10T02:21:21Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > This really belongs in GQ. Anyway, yes, there is a post-workout window when your muscles are particularly sensitive to nutrients. Dr. John Berardi is one of the foremost experts on the topic, so you can Google for him. I was going to put it in GQ but figured this kind of nutrition was more of a subjective field. Thanks though, I’m reading a John Berardi article right now. I’ve read some of his diet articles before and they were pretty interesting. Anyway I guess 16oz of milk with protein and alot of sugar immediately after a workout will be a good idea for me. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/5 "2005-01-10T03:00:22Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > I was going to put it in GQ but figured this kind of nutrition was more of a subjective field. Nutrition itself isn’t really terribly subjective, but applied nutrition kinda is. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/6 "2005-01-11T17:16:08Z")
Is a post exercise shake of protein, milk and sugar important after cardio or just after strength training? Will a person use up their glycogen stores doing cardio? What about High intensity interval training cardio? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-you-eat-after-you-workout-and-how/283963/7 "2005-01-11T17:18:26Z")
I generally don’t do anything special except after a weight training session.