10 best foods for running

Avocados

The cholesterol-lowering monounsaturated fat in these green health bombs can help keep your body strong and pain free. University of Buffalo researchers found that competitive women runners who ate less than 20 per cent fat were more likely to suffer injuries than those who consumed at least 31 per cent. Dr Peter J. Horvath, a professor at the university, speculates that the problem is linked to extreme low-fat diets, which weaken muscles and joints. "A few slices of avocado a day are a great way to boost fat for women who are fat shy," says Leslie Bonci, di

Berries

Just a handful of blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries is an excellent source of antioxidants, which protect muscles from free radical damage that might be caused by exercise. Shop for berries by the shade of their skin: The deeper the colour, the healthier the fruit.

rector of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

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