Natural Solutions For Post Workout Muscle Recovery

By Carol Williams

It’s a well-known fact that regular physical exercise offers a lot of health benefits. But not many are aware that what you do once the workouts are over is equally crucial to your recovery and overall well-being, much to their disadvantage.

Studies on muscle recovery show that the period following any physical training is essential for your fitness journey. Many people in the bodybuilding world have stumbled onto this knowledge by chance. Weight lifting doesn’t make your muscles bigger. Instead, muscles grow and become bigger while you’re at rest.

This explains why the post-workout period is so vital for reaching your fitness goals. In this article, we’ll cover some of the best natural supplements you can use to get the most out of your post-workout periods, quicken muscle recovery, and ensure you see the best results.

But before diving into these four natural solutions, it’s necessary to understand muscle recovery.

What is Post-Workout Muscle Recovery?

As we just mentioned, muscles don’t grow while you’re in the gym. Exercising like deadlifts, squats, and bench-press “damage” the muscles by causing microscopic tears in the muscle fibres. These tears initiate a process of repair and cause the muscles to adapt to the stress and tension, leading to increases in strength and size. It’s as if your muscles decide to get ready for your next workout by growing tougher, stronger, and bigger.

In case your primary goal for exercising isn’t to build muscle mass, helping your joints and entire body to recover is vital. Absent adequate rest and nutrients, muscles fail to achieve the kind of repair that causes growth, resulting in your adrenal glands and endocrine system possibly going into exhaustion.

To prevent this and accelerate muscle recovery after your workout sessions, here are four natural solutions to try today. 

1. Cannabidiol (CBD)

Several trainers and bodybuilders have reported a significant decrease in post-workout stress and inflammation after using CBD products like CBD oil and CBD gummies. Despite the anecdotal reports, many still harbor doubts. However, scientific studies show that CBD and products derived from this compound can be an effective and natural way to aid post-workout muscle recovery.

A 2018 review involving 132 original studies published in the Frontiers in Neurology showed that CBD is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. The review concluded that CBD could aid in the alleviation of pain and issues of mobility. You find stress relief with CBD products like Sunday Scaries that help relax and promote rest before and after strenuous workouts. 

2. Probiotics

Probiotics are the natural opposites of antibiotics. In other words, there are good bacteria that offer the human body a number of health benefits. Research indicates that a strain of probiotics known as bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 can reduce muscle damage.

In another research published in the Journal of The International Society of Sports Nutrition, scientists noted that GanedenBC30 proved effective for boosting physical performance, enhancing muscle recovery, and decreasing muscle damage. It’s vital to remember that probiotics are beneficial, especially in situations that involve muscle-damaging exercises. However, they are best used in combination with protein.

3. Branched-chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

There are three BCAAs crucial for muscle growth and repair, namely valine, isoleucine, and leucine. There’s no other dietary supplement currently known that can induce muscle protein synthesis apart from leucine. Despite being such a key element for muscle recovery, this BCAA is an “essential” amino acid, which implies that your body doesn’t produce it naturally.

Hence, you can only acquire it from foods, dietary supplements, and drinks that you consume. Given the instrumental role these three branched-chain amino acids play in muscle recovery, you need to ingest them regularly if you are into intense and regular workouts.

4. Adaptogen Herbs

Adaptogen herbs such as astragalus, holy basil, ashwagandha, and ginseng are capable of supporting and increasing the body’s resilience to different types of stress. They collectively boost recovery from fatigue, stabilize blood sugar, and enable the body to produce essential homes for muscle recovery.

Most of these herbs have been used and safely produced results for many centuries in systems like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the adverse side effects of some synthetic products today. Adaptogen herbs can help you put the best into your workout sessions while supporting muscle recovery.

Conclusion

It makes no difference if you’re a regular weekend runner, a professional athlete, a hardcore gym member, or just a yoga enthusiast; you should prioritize recovery. Doing so will ensure that you see the best physical and mental results from working out. Your body will thank you for doing so. Don’t wait till old age to take the best care of your body.

You can make the necessary adjustments and use the right solutions to minimize wear and tear on your body even in your prime. The best place to begin is by incorporating these four natural solutions into your daily routine and workout plan. If you’re in any doubt or dealing with any existing health conditions, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional medical practitioner or fitness expert first.

(Carol Williams is a content analyst who commits herself to continuous learning and focuses on sharing ideas and techniques. She is a passionate writer who loves writing about health and wellness.)

ALSO WATCH: Meet the construction worker who raps like 2Pac