After intense physical activity, especially long-distance trekking or running, people often feel soreness in their waist, legs, or muscles, and feel exhausted and thirsty. In such situations, what beverages should be consumed, and what foods should be eaten?
In general, alkaline foods should be consumed after labor or exercise. Among animal products, only milk and animal blood are alkaline foods, while others are acidic foods. As for beverages, it is best to drink milk, soy milk, tea water, fruit juice (without added sugar), mineral water, or plain water. Whether to drink saltwater or sugared water after exercise should be flexibly determined based on the specific situation. Generally, in cases of heavy sweating, especially during intense exercise in summer, drinking some diluted saltwater is appropriate.
According to measurements, running a marathon can cause the loss of 30 grams of sodium chloride with sweat. However, a person only consumes 10-15 grams of sodium chloride from food each day, which can lead to salt deficiency in the body, resulting in fatigue, muscle cramps, or spasms. Therefore, it is necessary to drink some diluted saltwater during intense exercise in summer.
In cases of low intensity, short duration, and moderate environmental temperature, the body produces less heat and does not experience significant sweating or loss of inorganic salts. In such cases, there is no need to drink saltwater or sugared water.
If the exercise lasts for a long time, such as running a marathon or long-distance cycling, and the energy consumption is high, it is appropriate to drink some sugared water or sugar-salt water. As for general physical exercise, there is no need to drink sugared water.
The most suitable foods to eat after exercise are tofu, dried tofu, and various soy products, as well as fresh fruits, melons, and various vegetables. These are all good alkaline foods. Kelp is known as the "king of alkaline foods". In addition, roasting sesame and soybeans, adding shredded ginger and a little salt, and steeping them with boiling water can quench thirst and satisfy hunger. Sesame, soybeans, and ginger are all good alkaline foods, and consuming them can help reduce blood acidity and eliminate fatigue, which is also beneficial.
