Fueling for Long Runs and Rides with Autoimmune Disease: Avoid Fatigue, Gut Issues, and Flares
Training for a long trail run, a big mountain objective, or an all-day ride asks a lot of your body.…
As a functional nutritionist, I take a food-first approach to helping my outdoor athlete clients optimize their nutrition. If your goal is to consume a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and colorful plant foods, then visiting a farmer’s market should be a top priority!
Farmers’ markets offer access to fresh, nutritious, and (often) organically-grown produce (even if not certified organic), meat, poultry, eggs, and other whole foods that you can use to fuel your health and athletic performance. In this blog, I’ll highlight several farmers’ markets in the Denver area where you can pick up nutrient-dense foods to fuel your life and your adventures!
Perhaps the most famous farmers’ market in the Denver area is the Boulder Farmers’ Market. Boulder has long been known for being a health-centric and active city, and its farmers’ market is the perfect place to pick up fresh, whole foods to fuel your athletic adventures!
When I lived in Broomfield, Colorado, during my first few years in Colorado, I often visited the Boulder Farmer’s Market. It is my favorite farmer’s market in the Front Range; the only downside is that they don’t allow pets, so I couldn’t bring my dog. 🙃
Some of my favorite produce purchases at the Boulder Farmer’s Market came from Aspen Moon Farm, a beautiful farm north of Boulder in Longmont. They have USDA Certified Organic vegetables, herbs, and even starter plants. I also love picking up mushrooms from Hazel Dell Mushrooms. I recommend trying their Lion’s Mane mushrooms – they are delicious pan-fried in a bit of butter!
Pictured above, you’ll see the beautiful beets I got in my Aspen Moon Farm’s CSA order! Beets are a vegetable that should absolutely be in your diet as an outdoor athlete. They contain phytonutrients, including nitrates, that can improve anaerobic performance (such as sprints). Beetroot consumption is also associated with increased muscular strength and endurance performance and lower post-exercise muscle soreness in mountain climbers! (Source, Source)
Here’s my favorite way to prepare beets (it’s super simple):
The Golden Farmer’s Market is another highly rated farmers’ market in the Front Range of Colorado. They are open on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm, May 31st through October 4th, with vendors selling everything from peaches to kombucha to mushrooms.
Fermented foods are powerhouses of probiotic bacteria and beneficial probiotic metabolites that can support our health and wellness as outdoor athletes. Kombucha – which you can find from multiple vendors at the Golden Farmer’s Market – is associated with reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, two factors that (in excess) can hinder athletic performance and recovery. (Source, Source)
Kombucha also contains probiotics, live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed. Kombucha probiotics are associated with increases in beneficial gut bacteria (Source, [in vitro] Source)
As I’ve written about before, a healthy gut is vital for your long-term health and athletic performance. Kombucha (and other fermented foods) can be powerful allies in supporting your gut health!
The South Pearl Street Farmer’s Market is a popular farmer’s market in Denver proper. They have a ton of vendors! One of my favorite vendors is Il Porcellino Salumi, an artisan meat producer with all sorts of charcuterie.
Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, and mustard greens are a great source of magnesium, a mineral that is vital for outdoor athletes. Magnesium is required for hundreds of biochemical reactions inside the body, including cellular energy production, maintenance of bone density, muscle contraction and relaxation, blood pressure regulation, hormone balance, and mental health.
You can eat dark leafy greens in a salad, saute them gently and serve with protein and a starch for dinner, or add them to smoothies (spinach tends to work well in smoothies, in my experience).
Farmers’ markets are a wonderful place to acquire whole, fresh foods to fuel your body and your outdoor adventures. If you live in the Denver area, the Boulder, Golden, and South Pearl Street Farmer’s Markets are the top ones to visit, in my experience.
Have you visited any Denver-area farmers’ markets? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
I empower others through nutrition to conquer their mountain adventures, drawing from my own experiences.
With a background in Biomedical Science and an M.S. in Human Nutrition, I’m a Certified Nutrition Specialist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. My journey in functional medicine has equipped me to work alongside athletes and tackle complex health cases. As a passionate trail runner, backcountry skier, and backpacker, I strive to support others on their paths to peak performance and well-being.
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