The Ultimate Guide to Post-Workout Recovery
Even though a lot of people think that spending hours at the gym is what matters most, the truth is that a post-workout recovery routine also plays a huge role when it comes to the final result. We can freely say that it’s as important as your workouts, so keep on reading if you don’t believe us. Here are four ultimate tips you should bear in mind, so check them out and get down to business!
Food is fuel: Eat balanced meals after a workout
No matter if you’re an experienced gym enthusiast or just a beginner at working out, you must know that eating the right foods will help you gain muscle mass faster while speeding up the process of recovery at the same time. This is exactly why you should stay away from processed foods rich in empty calories and switch to healthy, nutrient-dense meals that will fuel up your entire body. For example, foods rich in vitamins B6, C, and K such as cherries and broccoli, as well as those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and almonds, are always a good choice. There are also ginger and turmeric which will halt inflammation and help your body recover much faster, so introduce them into your everyday diet and you’ll see what we were talking about.
Make sure to get enough sleep, too
Apart from the well-balanced meals, adequate sleep also plays a huge role when it comes to speeding up the process of recovery after a workout. It’s said to have therapeutic effects simply because your body releases hormones that aid in recovery while you’re asleep. That basically means that it brings a state of recuperation, so do your best to adopt a good sleeping pattern that will work for you. You should start by going to bed at a specific time every single night. Besides that, you should keep distractions such as television and your smartphone at bay, so that your body can adapt properly. As for the amount of sleep you should get, it’s about 8 hours a night – or even an hour longer, if you’re a professional athlete.
Try natural remedies to speed up the process of recovery
There’s a wide range of natural ways to ease muscle tension and aid your recovery, and one of them includes using Epsom salts. These are made of magnesium sulfate, which can reduce tissue swelling and relax your muscles that way. If that’s what you’re struggling with, just dissolve one or two cups of Epsom salts into warm bath water and soak for 15 minutes. On the other hand, more and more people these days are giving medical marijuana a try, as it has a lot of beneficial properties when it comes to post-workout recovery. It can actually ease the inflammation and soreness that come with intense training, which is why a lot of athletes use it to keep their muscles in top shape. So, if you’re up for a natural remedy of this kind, get your quality marijuana concentrates and start using them after your workouts. We’re sure that you’ll love the therapeutic effect it has.
Don’t forget to drink a lot of water
In case you weren’t aware of that fact, water is actually the most important nutrient for active people. When you work out, you lose a lot of essential fluids through sweating. These need to be replaced in order for your muscles to recover properly in the first place, and you know what? Maintaining good hydration supports healthy weight loss as well, which is a good enough reason to drink at least one glass more than usual on a daily basis. Did you know that you can lose several liters of sweat in just one hour? That’s a quite shocking fact, so make sure to replenish lost fluids in order to avoid dehydration. Of course, if you simply can’t drink recommended two liters of water a day, you can either opt for unsweetened herbal tea or add some lemon to your water instead. Both of these will be more than fine.
As you can see, your post-workout recovery is undoubtedly as important as your workouts. That’s why you should do your best to eat well-balanced meals, get enough sleep, drink enough water, and use some natural remedies to speed up the process of recovery. Once that’s done, you’ll notice a huge difference that will motivate you do work out even harder, which is a fantastic thing you shouldn’t overlook!