Pedal on the Pier
The Harold Robinson Foundation presents its annual bike ride at the Santa Monica Pier. 100 BIKES. 100 MILES! All of the proceeds will go to providing a camp experience for underprivileged children that would otherwise never get the opportunity.
Now is the time to get your mind and body ready for the big event! Here are 6 essentials that you will need to keep your energy up, your body strong, and your mind focused. Stop by your local Gelson's Market where you can find all of these items!
The branched-chain amino acids in soybeans stop muscle degradation during long rides while the antioxidants help alleviate postride aches and pains. Research published in The Nutrition Journal found that both soy and whey proteins build lean muscle mass, but soy protein also prevents exercise-induced inflammation. "Chocolate soy milk makes an excellent recovery drink," says Barbara Lewin, RD, a sports nutritionist who owns Sports-Nutritionist.com. Also, keep soy nuts in the car or at the office for a great protein-rich snack.
Berries
These yummy fruits “are more important for good health than we ever imagined,” says cyclist and Prevention magazine food editor Regina Ragone, R.D. They’re packed with important antioxidants that seem to reverse some age-related decline such as loss of balance and coordination. They also neutralize free radicals-cell-crippling molecules that occur when your body converts oxygen to energy-before they can do their damage. That’s especially important for cyclists, who convert lots of oxygen to energy on every ride.
It’s always been a refreshing addition to a summer salad and a cool treat for tired eyes. It’s also a good source of caffeic acid, which helps sooth skin irritation, and silica, an essential building block of connective tissue like muscle, tendons and ligaments, and bone. The flesh contains vitamin C, and the skin is rich in potassium and magnesium.
Vitamin C is a cyclist’s best friend for keeping healthy and recovering strong, and 1 cup of chopped red peppers packs 142 milligrams of the stuff-more than twice the amount you’d get from a medium-size orange and more than twice the 60 mg Daily Value. This powerful antioxidant reduces the soreness associated with free-radical muscle damage, and it boosts your immune system, so you’re less susceptible to colds and sickness. “Red peppers are also an excellent source of beta carotene,” says Ragone.
Full of easy to digest fatty acids, Sweet Young Coconut water provides the body with a natural bust of energy. Aside from that, the coconut water is a great source of potassium and electrolytes which makes for a great replacement for traditional sports/energy drinks.
Rich in immunity-building vitamin A and papain, an enzyme that aids digestion, papaya is a delicious addition to salads and stir-fries. Also Papain and chymopapain, the protein-digestive enzymes found in papaya, lowers inflammation and improve healing from burns. Papain breaks down the inactive proteins in the skin, removing dead tissue from burns. This benefits the body as it helps heal skin injuries, relieves psoriasis, removes warts, treats ringworms and cold sores.
Also vitamins C, E and beta carotenes are good at reducing inflammation and as such these nutrients are used to treat asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis among many other inflammatory ailments.
Leave us a comment below and let us know what you like to eat before a ride!
