This is a guest post written by Nancy Rodriguez, PhD, RD, CSSD, FACSM, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Connecticut and director of sports nutrition in the Department of Sports Medicine.  To learn more about Nancy, check out her full bio here.

With March Madness heating up, you may find yourself more motivated than ever to get active.  While the UConn Huskies and other college athletes exercise daily, the rest of us often struggle to fit in workouts with work, family, and other commitments.  That’s why it is important to find ways to maximize time at the gym.  Through years of research and first-hand experience working with active adults, I’ve learned how important it is to combine exercise with proper nutrition for the best results.

Protein, in particular, is a key nutrient for active adults.  Studies show that a higher protein diet combined with resistance exercise can build more lean muscle than resistance training alone or when combined with carbohydrate consumption.

If the thought of eating protein before or after a workout sounds challenging, I recommend trying whey protein.  A high-quality protein naturally found in dairy, whey protein is quickly absorbed and easy to digest — making it a great workout partner.  Whey protein powder is easily mixed into low-fat milk or yogurt for a quick pre- or post-workout snack.  Other simple “wheys” to boost protein intake with whey protein powder are to:

• Stir into hot cereal or creamy soups and sauces
• Use as an ingredient in baked goods
• Add to peanut or other nut butters

Whey protein after a workout has also been shown to enhance exercise recovery by building and repairing muscle. And that’s another great reason to make whey protein part of your exercise routine to optimize your workouts!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 at 10:08 am and is filed under From the Field. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.