Sri Lankan Curry

Popeye had it right all along! Researchers have found that the leafy green vegetable really can boost your muscle power.

Nitrate, a compound found in spinach, when given to exercising volunteers, showed improved muscle performance due to increased efficiency & oxygen usage in the mitochondria of muscle cells. It was noted the participants also needed less oxygen when taking exercise.

Nitrate, when converted into nitric oxide, regulates vasodilation, relaxing blood vessels and improving blood flow, which could allow more oxygen to reach the muscles. It seems that nitric oxide helps muscle mitochondria become more efficient.

Sweet potato is a great source of complex carbohydrate, which is low on the glycaemic index, meaning that it provides sustainable energy.

Sweet potatoes are also rich in fibre, helping your body process the sugars, resulting in a steady supply of energy, for longer periods.

They also contain high levels of Potassium, a mineral that plays a big role in muscle control, electrolyte balance and nerve function. 

Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin C which helps to prevent muscle catabolism (the breakdown of muscle tissue).

A whole grain that contains the bran and germ, as apposed to white rice which is a refined grain that has these nutritious parts removed.

Brown rice has a lower glycaemic index than white rice, meaning that it’s digested slower & has less of an impact on blood sugar.

The fibre helps lower cholesterol, moves waste through the digestive tract, promotes fullness & may help prevent the formation of blood clots.

Exceptionally high in manganese, a mineral vital for many important processes in the body, such as bone development, wound healing, muscle contraction metabolism, nerve function & blood sugar regulation.