There is absolutely no problem digesting both at the same time. When you eat carbohydrates alone you can get a blood sugar spike and raise serotonin levels quickly, giving you that mental “rush” that comes from eating sugary foods. Ideally you should be eating some protein and high-performance fats along with whole food sources of carbohydrates at every meal and snack to keep your blood sugar level evenly elevated, keeping your serotonin level high all day long. I would add some extra-virgin olive oil and some vegetables to your shrimp and brown rice to make it a true high-performance, feel-great meal. Keep in mind that during exercise you do not want to consume fat with a sports drink because it will slow fluid absorption. I recommend minimizing fat consumption just before exercise because it will slow digestion and keep your stomach full as you go into your workout.

ANSWERED BY:

Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., RD, FACN, CNS, FISSN, one of the foremost nutrition authorities on eating for strength, owner of High Performance Nutrition and author of Power Eating. (powereating.com)