Eat this food before a workout for muscle gain and fat loss, experts say

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away

Experts say that, when it comes to deciding what to eat before a workout, there is one food that trumps all others. Especially where muscle gain and fat loss are concerned. Dr. Jim Stoppani is an exercise physiologist who has helped stars such as The Rock and LL Cool J with their diets. According to him, there is one food you shouldn't go without before training: An apple. What were you thinking - a huge steak, massive bowl of rice, or three scoops of a supplement with a crazy name like Super Weight Gain 3000? In a video posted to his social media channels, Dr. Stoppani outlined the case for eating an apple before hitting the gym. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFfr7RCJgrh/ He said: "Apples are one of the best carb sources you can have before workouts. "They provide a great source of fibre and a low-glycemic (slow digesting) carb source, which provides you long-lasting energy throughout your workouts so you don't crash." Without getting too bogged down in the science, high-glycemic foods such as white bread, honey and breakfast cereal are rapidly absorbed by the body. This makes them great to eat if you're working out right away, less so if you need longer-lasting energy. But it's not just the energy source that makes apples the perfect pre-workout snack. [caption id="attachment_250568" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Photo: iStock[/caption]

Can apples can boost muscle gain?

Stoppani says they can also help you gain muscle and burn fat. "It's due to the polyphenols that are in the skin. The main one in apples is ursolic acid. Now, the research in both humans and animals show that ursolic acid can increase fat loss, boost muscle growth, enhance muscle strength, increase endurance and even lower cholesterol levels." Not bad for a food you can buy down the corner shop, right? No unnecessary trips to expensive health food stores are needed for this one. The variety of apple with the most ursolic acid in it is the fuji apple, with around 100 miligrams per apple. Granny Smiths are still a good bet though, with 75 miligrams in each serving.