What makes up a heart-healthy diet? What are the best foods to eat before and after a workout?

Tamanna Singh, MD, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Vascular & Thoracic Institute, answered those questions and more in a new interview with the health and wellness website Well + Good.

When it comes to eating a heart-healthy diet, Singh echoed a common recommendation from cardiologists: embrace plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts.

She also discussed some foods that she thinks people should limit as much as possible.

“I typically recommend moderation when consuming red meat, foods high in saturated fat, and foods high in added sugar,” Singh said. “At the end of the day, the more whole foods, unprocessed you can eat, the better.”

Singh also discussed what she recommends eating before and after every workout.

“When it comes to pre-workout food, I typically recommend eating a small snack about an hour before exercise to improve energy, performance and mental clarity while exercising,” she said, as quoted by Well + Good. “But bear in mind that if you have a longer workout and/or more intense sweat session planned, you will likely need more pre-exercise fuel than that. I recommend choosing simple carbohydrates, which are faster forms of fuel and much easier for your body to access during exercise compared to fats or proteins. These take longer to digest and utilize, which can also cause some gut discomfort.”

When the workout is done, Singh recommends focusing on “antioxidant-rich foods and protein for more rapid muscle recovery” and omega-3 fatty acids to limit inflammation.

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