To Optimize Regeneration, Nutrition Timing is Key

Expert take:

Nutrition timing is especially important for women who want to prioritize optimal recovery after training, according to nutrition scientist and exercise physiologist, Dr. Stacy Sims. After training or exercise, your metabolism comes back to a baseline level, and this is a different process for men and women.

"Our [female] metabolism comes back down to baseline levels so much faster than men. It comes back down to baseline within 45 minutes to an hour whereas men can have three to 18 hours depending on what they did," she says. Nutrition timing is key during this timeframe for hormone health and recovery. "When you look specifically at physiology and how women respond, that window is so important to maintain endocrine health and get adaptations," says Dr. Sims.