A Recipe to Achieve Healthy Weight

Exercise scientists at the University of Arkansas (Arkansas, USA) have identified a novel interaction between food, exercise, and total energy expenditure.  Ashley Binns and colleagues assessed 10 college-age women of normal body weight, who were categorized as “recreationally active” – subjects normally exercised at least twice a week, but they weren’t athletes or severely overweight.  Each participant was given either a high-protein meal, low-protein meal, or no food at all, before walking on a treadmill.  The team found that the high-protein meal followed by 30 minutes of moderate exercise was an effective way to burn calories, as compared to exercising on an empty stomach.  The lead author submits that: “with exercise, there is a trend for a continued increase in caloric expenditure with higher protein consumption. Additionally, the consumption of the high- or low-protein meals resulted in greater energy expenditure than the fasted state. That means that eating prior to exercise does provide fuel to burn, making us more like an energy-burning machine.”