What’s the Best Timing for Protein?

Can the timing of consumption improve the outcomes of strength or aerobic training? The answer is yes to both!

Strength Training and Timing for Protein

Post exercise nutrient intake is likely critical to facilitate muscle growth. In one study, 13 men ingested a meal either within five minutes of strength training or within two hours.¹ Gains in muscle hypertrophy and strength were greater in the five-minute group. This agreed with an earlier study in which rodents were exercised and received a meal immediately or four hours later. Muscle mass increased and fat decreased more when the rodents ate immediately.²  

Aerobic Training and Timing for Protein

In another study, humans performed 60 minutes of moderate cycling.³ They consumed a small meal immediately or three hours later. Muscle protein synthesis was three times greater in the immediate-meal group.

Conclusion

The evidence we have supports the idea that there is a quickly closing window of opportunity for enhancing workouts with a small meal. Studies suggest that eating immediately after a workout is better than waiting. This lends hypothetical support for consuming nutrients immediately before or during a workout as well.

 

References

1. Esmarck B, Andersen JL, Olsen S, Richter EA, Mizuno M, Kjaer M. Timing of postexercise protein intake is important for muscle hypertrophy with resistance training in elderly humans. The Journal of Physiology. 2001 Aug;535(1):301-11.
2. Suzuki M, Doi T, Lee SJ, OKAMURA K, SHIMIZU S, OKANO G, SATO Y, SHIMOMURA Y, FUSHIKI T. Effect of meal timing after resistance exercise on hindlimb muscle mass and fat accumulation in trained rats. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. 1999;45(4):401-9.

Levenhagen DK, Gresham JD, Carlson MG, Maron DJ, Borel MJ, Flakoll PJ. Postexercise nutrient intake timing in humans is critical to recovery of leg glucose and protein homeostasis. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology