Are fitness cereals beneficial for bodybuilders?

L'nutrition of a sportsman is fundamental. Whether it's for weight gain or weight loss, your diet will allow you to reach your goal or not. Thinking to do well, many bodybuilding practitioners consume fitness cereals for breakfast. But do you really know what's in them?

Why are cereals not good for bodybuilders?

For many French people, the breakfast cereals are unavoidable. On a nutritional planHowever, eating cereal regularly is not recommended, especially if you practice a sport such as weight training. In fact, most industrial cereals that can be bought in supermarkets have a glycemic index (GI) particularly high.

The glycemic index is the rate at which your organization The more quickly glucose is released into the bloodstream, the more likely it is to interfere with your metabolism. The faster glucose is released into the bloodstream, the more likely it is to disrupt your metabolism. Eating foods with too high a glycemic index can lead to conditions such as increased blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other health problems.obesity or diabetes.

This indicator is measured on a scale of 0 to 100, for example, cereals such as Choco Pops or Rice Krispies have a GI of 80 and 82 respectively.

In addition, these products often have a too high a salt contentin sugars and saturated fats. Contrary to what the marketing departments of these brands would have us believe, this is also the case for most so-called low-fat or vitamin and mineral-rich cereals. Finally, these cereals generally have a low satiety index. This will not allow you to lose weight, because you will be hungry quickly.

These products are therefore incompatible with the diet of a body-builder because of their unbalanced distribution in macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids).

How good are the new protein fitness cereals?

For several years, protein fitness cereals have been invading the shelves of our supermarkets. If we believe their packaging, these products are supposed to be able to be integrated into a healthy eating and balanced.

Certainly, products such as Kellogg's Special K Protein or Nestlé Fitness have a higher protein content (15 and 10 grams of protein per 100 grams respectively). At first glance, this seems ideal for athletes who want to bulk up muscle.

But these foods actually have a sugar level extremely high. This is also the case for cereal bars and the many varieties of mueslis commercially available.

It is therefore essential to be wary of the packaging of cereals, even if they seem to be intended for sportsmen. To avoid the pitfalls, it is essential to calculate caloric intake you need and the distribution of your macros, and especially to learn how to deciphering a food label.

Which cereals are best for weight trainers?

But then, are all cereals incompatible with bodybuilding? No, rest assured! If cereals are a staple breakfast food for you, you'll be able to find what you need. Just make sure you select foods with no added sugar.

To fill up on energy in the morning, Weetabix Protein cereals offer a nutritional intake interesting with 62 grams of carbohydrates, 19 grams of protein and 1.9 grams of fat per 100 grams.

The oatmeal are also very appreciated by those who practice physical activity, because they contribute to the proper functioning of the metabolism. These whole grains are rich in dietary fibre (ideal for combating bad cholesterol) and are particularly satiating due to their low calorie content. They can be eaten with vegetable milk or yoghurt, or used to make a porridge or pancakes. Quaker brand oatmeal, a reference on the market, can be found in most supermarkets.

The Prozis protein granola is also an excellent source of protein (21 grams of protein per 100 grams). The Prozis one is available in different flavours: chocolate and hazelnuts, honey, forest fruits, etc.). For a healthy, complete and delicious breakfast, you can accompany it with dairy products such as fromage blanc 0 % or skyr and a portion of dried fruits (nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, etc.) or fresh fruit (banana, strawberry, grape, apricot, etc.).

Need calibrated nutrition?

Conclusion

Whether your goal is to gain muscle mass or to lose weightFitness cereals sold in supermarkets are very sweet and should therefore be banned from your diet. To avoid unpleasant surprises and to start the day well, choose instead quality food such as whole grains and always remember to check the nutritional value of the product.