Supercharge Your Winter Workouts With These 5 Superfoods

Training through the cold winter months can be quite challenging. Unlike the warm summer months, winter training demands a bit more energy from your body — along with truckloads of motivation and consistency! Joining an active community, or working with a programme designed to help you reach your goals, are two ways Virgin Active can help to keep you going. The rest is up to your body, how you fuel it and eeerrr, your discipline levels.

Keeping your body fuelled with healthy foods before and after a winter workout is very important. However, too often, on-the-go options contain sugar or are high in calories that won’t fuel your body with the proper energy, nutrients and fibre that it needs to perform at its best. So instead of getting stronger, faster, you’ll find it harder to recover after workouts — and you may even become more susceptible to illnesses and injury. And we’re certain that wasn’t the initial goal!

Fortunately, there is a wide range of superfoods to choose from that can exponentially supercharge your winter workout — and take you from shivering to sizzling.

Below is a list of the best superfoods, curated by our friends at Virgin Active, that can be found in some of the delicious options on offer at Kauai. The best part, it’s right inside the club.

1. Ginger

One of the superfoods on this list that is truly deserving of the title. Ginger is packed with nutrients and boasts wide-ranging health benefits, hence it’s a staple in many green juices. Ginger helps minimise inflammation, reduces nausea and its blood-thinning properties can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But most importantly, ginger can help boost immunity due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties – very NB during winter months. Get your boost of ginger in Kauai’s Ginger Shot. Alternatively, try their delicious Floo Juice which fuses ginger with orange, carrot, lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper.

2. Red Peppers

Think citrus fruits have the most Vitamin C of any fruit or vegetable? Think again. Red peppers contain twice as much Vitamin C as that found in citrus fruits. Vitamin C is important for boosting immunity, improving digestion and maintaining a healthy weight. FYI: The spicy peppers rev up your metabolism and suppress your appetite. Evidence also suggests that cayenne pepper—made from red peppers—can help clear congestion and relieve headaches. You can get a great cayenne pepper kick from the red peppers in Kauai’s Thai Crunch Salad Bowl or Spicy Burrito Wrap.

READ MORE: Why A Boxing Workout Is A Quick Route To A Shredded Body

3. Raw Nuts

Raw nuts can lower bad cholesterol, control blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. They are a great source of Omega-3, while being rich in Vitamin E, antioxidants and magnesium. Nuts can also help improve the lining of your arteries and reduce the risk of developing blood clots. If you need a snack that packs a powerful punch before a workout, don’t hesitate to pick up a snack pack of Kauai’s Raw Mixed Nuts or grab a delicious Nut Milk Smoothie post-workout. The Almond Nut Porridge is also a guaranteed way to start your day with a bang.

4. Cinnamon

A very common household ingredient, cinnamon is essential for producing healthy red blood cells and also helps reduce spikes in blood sugar levels—a common occurrence for many after a sweat sesh! Cinnamon also has probiotic properties that support gut health, therefore aiding with digestion and serving as a natural immune booster due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Packed with cinnamon, Kauai’s Plant Porridge Pot will give you a warm start to your winter workout. Their Cinna-Bomb Smoothie is also a great option if you’re looking for a yummy cinnamon kick.

5. Chicken Is A Winter Winner

Bet you weren’t expecting to see chicken on a superfoods list, huh?! Sometimes, a healthy comfort food after a gruelling winter workout is just what the body needs. Chicken is high in vitamin B-6. About 85 grams of lean chicken meat contains 40 to 50 percent of your daily recommended amount of B-6. Vitamin B-6 plays a key role in many of the chemical reactions that take place in the body. It’s also vital to the formation of new and healthy red blood cells. Not only is Kauai’s Butta Chicken satiating, it’s also packed with essential proteins. For a spicier option, opt for a Cajun Chicken Quesadilla.

When fuelling your body, every bite matters. A combination of the above nutrients—mixed with locally-sourced fresh, raw ingredients and eaten regularly—will make these superfoods the nutritional powerhouses that help sustain you through the long winter ahead.

Check out the delicious Kauai superfood options available at your nearest Virgin Active Club, right now.

Even better, if you sign up in June, you’ll qualify for a free smoothie every day for 30 days to help get you through the winter slump. Click here for more information or to sign up.