** The Road to Slim City **

POWER FOODS

Need a little nutritional boost for your running? Here’s a list of some of the best foods to fuel your body.

RAISINS Mid-workout Carbs

The perfect on-the-go fuel is already in your pantry; two tablespoons of raisins pack more than 30 grams of carbs, making them ideal for snacking during runs

MUSHROOMS Post-workout Potassium

From white button to the more exotic maitake mushrooms, these fungi supply potassium crucial for body fluid balance. Mushrooms also contain an antioxidant known as L-ergothioneine not found in many foods and known to help fight off free-radical damage.

HEMP SEED OIL Healthy Fats

One tablespoon of this nutty oil supplies your daily need for omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids—essential for heart health, as well as controlling inflammation that may lead to diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

BISON Lower-Fat Protein and Iron

This high-protein red meat is lower in saturated fat than beef but packed with many of the same nutrients runners fall short on. Each 3.5-ounce serving contains more than 50 percent of your vitamin B12 needs and 30 percent of your needs for iron and zinc—all necessary for muscle function and recovery.

BERRIES Inflammation Fighters

Whether you choose strawberries, blueberries, or the more exotic acai and goji, all berries contain antioxidants called anthocyanidins. Studies show these compounds halt oxidative damage that occurs with aging, and may stave off muscle soreness.

FROZEN WHOLE GRAINS Quick Carbs

Pouches of cooked, frozen grains offer a fast, healthy choice on busy nights. Just microwave the wheat berries or brown or wild rice for a few seconds. They provide fiber and B vitamins to energize your runs.

CANNED BEANS Bargain Nutrition

One of the best buys in the grocery store, a one-cup serving of most canned beans supplies over 25 percent of your Daily Value for protein, almost 60 percent for fiber, and 20 percent for iron, along with a good dose of carbs.