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Why you should not exercise on an empty stomach

by Johana Mukandila
Picture: Pexels

Any medical practitioner will tell you that more individuals should regularly exercise and that it is crucial for their health.

Exercise is an effective strategy to reach your optimum physical and mental health when combined with a balanced diet. Additionally, it can aid in the prevention of chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Even research has demonstrated the huge life-extension benefits of regular exercise.

As a result, the question is not whether you should exercise but rather how to get started. Is it possible to exercise on an empty stomach? 

Even though some studies suggest that exercising on an empty stomach is beneficial, this doesn’t indicate that it always is. According to Healthline, exercising on an empty stomach could cause you to lose precious energy and reduce your stamina. You may experience other symptoms of low blood sugar, such as dizziness, nausea, or shaky.

Another potential is that your body will begin to store more fat than usual as it gets used to continuously drawing from its fat reserves for energy.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), your body uses glycogen, or carbohydrate storage, in your muscles and liver, to provide energy during activity. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your liver will break down its glycogen as you sweat to maintain your blood glucose levels, which your muscles will consume for energy in addition to their own glycogen stores. According to the ACSM, your body has roughly enough glycogen reserves to get you through a short or moderate-intensity workout. The Mayo Clinic states that when this glycogen is almost depleted, your body may start using fatty acids as fuel, Shape reported.

Also see: Things that can damage your liver

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