There’s nothing better than the feeling you get after a workout. It can feel exhilarating. Having intensive, regular workouts are required if you want to stay in peak physical shape and the sensations associated with a good workout can be addicting. However, that sensation doesn’t always hang around for too long and doesn’t come without a price. Stress is placed on the body when we work out, so the next day, your body may feel tense, sore, tired, and achy. Making it extremely hard to walk, sit, and move around in general. While many may pop an over-the-counter pain reliever to help get them through their day, the effects of taking such medications in the long-term may be a concern. Luckily, there are natural ways to recover from your workouts and ease muscle tension.
Refreshing your muscles after a long, hard workout is necessary if you want to see results, and reduce your chances of injury. When it comes to working out, you want to take the right approach. To help promote healing after a strenuous exercise session, check out these helpful tips on how to naturally recover from a workout.
Get Some Sleep
While this may seem obvious, sleep is crucial if you want to speed up the healing process. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep (7-8 hours) after an intense workout session to help ensure your body is able to heal properly.
Get Moving
This may seem counter-intuitive, but being active after a hard workout can help decrease your overall recovery time. Even if you want to just lie on the couch or in bed all day, fighting that urge can help you feel better, quicker. So instead, go for a walk, yoga, or even use a foam roller to keep the blood flowing.
Drink Tart Cherry Juice
What you put in your body can have a significant effect on how your body recovers. Published in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition, it was discovered that tart cherry juice (not from concentrate) could help reduce muscle pain by fighting inflammation.
Watch What You Eat
Watching what you eat can make all of the difference in how you feel after a hard workout. If you fuel your body correctly, with nutritious food, you can help boost the recovery process. Besides electrolytes, carbohydrates and protein are required to both fuel your workout and aid in muscle repair.
Get ‘Coco’ About Coconut Water
Drinking coconut water is a great natural alternative to Gatorade and other sugary, artificially flavored sports drinks. Containing plenty of potassium (which helps reduce post-workout soreness), coconut water is also a great way to replace any lost electrolytes during a strenuous exercise session.
