Protein gets plenty of attention for being a key part of
sports nutrition… but carbohydrates deserve just as much (if not more) focus! Especially
for endurance exercise.
Pure maple syrup is a natural source of carbohydrates. It can
help give athletes and active people the energy they need during exercise.
Disclosure:
This post is sponsored by Pure Maple from
Canada. As
always, I love to feature foods I recommend and enjoy myself and all opinions
are 100% my own.
How Do Carbs Support Exercise?
Before exercise, it’s helpful to have a balanced meal or
snack that contains carbohydrates, protein and fat to provide you with energy.
Fun fact: Carbohydrates are the body’s main fuel source and the brain’s preferred fuel source.
The Post-Workout Meal
When you think of sports nutrition, do you picture energy
bars and sports drinks?
These foods and drinks are top of mind for being convenient,
on-the-go fueling options to have before or during a workout. (And they’re
helpful for those purposes! I’ve included some recipes for these at the end of
this post).
Shortly after a workout, having one of these snacks can help
boost your energy temporarily. But within an hour or so of exercise, having a
balanced post workout meal is essential for refueling. You need to focus on
getting enough carbohydrates to replenish your glycogen stores and to spare the
protein in your meal so it can be used to repair your muscles.
The importance of the post workout meal is often overlooked, which is why I’m bringing you a recipe that includes carbohydrates, protein and vegetables – my Maple Ginger Shrimp with Carrots and Snow Peas!
You’re getting carbohydrates from the pure maple syrup in the
marinade and sauce, as well as in the rice or noodles this dish pairs
with.
Maple Syrup and Exercise
Pure maple syrup provides your body with energy to help maintain your stamina during exercise.
Research on the role of maple syrup in physical activity is underway.
A recent study
published in the journal Nutrients looked at how consuming a drink made with water
and maple compared to drinks with other carbohydrate sources on brain
oxygenation and decision-making during bouts of high intensity exercise.
A group of 85 active men did 3 minutes of intense effort on a
stationary bike followed by 3 minutes of rest 6 times. They were randomized to
drink either a drink made from maple syrup or sap, a store-bought sports drink,
a mix of water and glucose or just plain water (the placebo). Throughout the
experiment, they did cognitive tests to measure their reaction time and accuracy.
Just like the sports drink and the glucose drink, the maple
drinks supported cognitive performance. The maple drink and sports drink didn’t
raise blood sugar levels as high as the glucose drink. That makes sense,
because maple is lower on the glycemic index (raises blood sugar less overall)
than glucose.
While the research on maple and exercise is new, it’s
ongoing. We’re going to keep learning more about how maple might support
physical activity.
Maple
Syrup Nutrition
In addition to carbohydrates, pure maple syrup contains vitamins, minerals and polyphenols.
My Maple Ginger Shrimp with Carrots and Snow Peas is a
nutritious meal to enjoy after a workout or anytime you need a balanced and
delicious lunch or dinner!
The savory and spicy Asian flavors work perfectly with the natural sweetness of the maple and the veggies. It’s absolutely mouthwatering!
This quick and easy stir fry is savory, spicy and naturally sweet. The sauce is a delicious blend of soy, garlic, ginger and maple syrup instead of the typical honey or sugar… plus some red chili flakes for heat. Serve over rice, noodles or cauliflower rice for an energizing and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb jumbo or large raw shrimp (, frozen, peeled and deveined, tails removed)
3 large carrots (, peeled and sliced into 1/4″ thick coins (about 2 cups))
2 cups snow peas (, strings removed)
1 tbsp Avocado oil
MARINADE
1/4 cup 100% Pure Maple Syrup from Canada
1/4 cup Tamari
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 tsp fresh minced ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes ((optional))
TOPPINGS
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 scallion (, thinly sliced)
2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
To defrost shrimp, place in a colander in the sink and run under cold water until thawed, about 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, add the ingredients for the marinade to a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
Add the defrosted shrimp and half of the marinade to another medium bowl or resealable plastic bag. Cover or seal and put in the fridge to marinate for 10 minutes.
In a large pan or wok, heat half of the avocado oil over medium-high heat. Sear the shrimp for about 1 minute per side. Move the shrimp to a plate and cover with another plate to keep warm.
Turn the heat down to medium. Add the other half of the avocado oil to the pan. Add the snow peas and carrots and sauté for 1 minute.
Add the rest of the marinade and sauté until vegetables are tender-crisp and sauce starts to thicken, about 2 minutes.
Add the shrimp back to the pan and stir to warm. Add the sesame oil and stir. Sprinkle with green onion and sesame seeds.
Notes
Serving suggestion: this recipe is delicious over rice, noodles or cauliflower rice. Enjoy!
Prep Time:5
Cook Time:7
Maple Recipes for Pre-Workout and During a Workout
Looking for some quick fueling options?
Try these sports nutrition recipes featuring 100% pure maple
syrup from Canada!
[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Maple Ginger Shrimp with Carrots and Snow Peas – This quick and easy stir fry is savory, spicy and naturally sweet. The sauce is a delicious blend of soy, garlic, ginger and maple syrup instead of the typical honey or sugar… plus some red chili flakes for heat. Serve over rice, noodles or cauliflower rice for an energizing and satisfying meal. – jumbo or large raw shrimp (, frozen, peeled and deveined, tails removed), large carrots (, peeled and sliced into 1/4″ thick coins (about 2 cups)), snow peas (, strings removed), Avocado oil, Marinade: 100% Pure Maple Syrup from Canada, Tamari, minced garlic, fresh minced ginger, red pepper flakes ((optional)), Toppings: sesame oil, scallion (, thinly sliced), sesame seeds, To defrost shrimp, place in a colander in the sink and run under cold water until thawed, about 3 minutes.
; Meanwhile, add the ingredients for the marinade to a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
; Add the defrosted shrimp and half of the marinade to another medium bowl or resealable plastic bag. Cover or seal and put in the fridge to marinate for 10 minutes.
; In a large pan or wok, heat half of the avocado oil over medium-high heat. Sear the shrimp for about 1 minute per side. Move the shrimp to a plate and cover with another plate to keep warm.; Turn the heat down to medium. Add the other half of the avocado oil to the pan. Add the snow peas and carrots and sauté for 1 minute.
; Add the rest of the marinade and sauté until vegetables are tender-crisp and sauce starts to thicken, about 2 minutes. ; Add the shrimp back to the pan and stir to warm. Add the sesame oil and stir. Sprinkle with green onion and sesame seeds.
; – <p><strong>Serving suggestion:</strong> this recipe is delicious over rice, noodles or cauliflower rice. Enjoy!</p>[/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
