Your diet is a huge contributor to how you feel mentally and physically. While eating chocolate may be beneficial to your happiness, it may also help with muscle recovery.
Yes, we’re serious! Foam rollers and stretching can help with repairing damaged tissue, but so can eating the right foods. Read on to discover some interesting foods you may not have realised could be the best food for muscle recovery - you won’t be disappointed!
Why you should eat well
Having a balanced and healthy diet is fundamental to good health and well-being. It helps us maintain a healthy weight and BMI, while also reducing our risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Aside from the obvious health benefits, a good diet can improve your mood as well as your memory.
The old adage still stands and is very appropriate in relation to food and physical benefits: what you put in is what you get out. Certain foods can help with muscle recovery after exercise due to the nutrients and proteins they contain which can help repair and rebuild damaged tissue.
Best food for muscle recovery
You may already know that protein shakes and protein bars are hugely popular for a post-exercise snack. This is because foods rich in protein and carbohydrates are beneficial to support muscle recovery.
The following foods are also great options:
- Cottage cheese
- Sweet potato
- Watermelon
- Salmon
- Eggs
- Dark chocolate
- Spinach
- Green tea
- Nuts and seeds
- Bananas
Remember, it’s also very important to be drinking enough water to keep the muscles hydrated!
The best muscle recovery tips
For the most effective muscle recovery, you should incorporate eating well, getting enough sleep, and using muscle recovery tools. It is important to keep in mind that there is no right way to do it, it’s just what works for you individually!
You may prefer eating 3 healthy meals a day or you may find it more beneficial to eat 5 small meals! As long as you’re incorporating these muscle recovery foods as a part of a balanced diet, then you can’t go wrong. Pair this with sleeping for about 8 hours a night as sleep is essential to give your muscles time to rebuild themselves!
Don’t forget your Pulseroll vibrating recovery tools, such as a vibrating foam roller or massage gun, to improve circulation and ease muscle soreness after exercise. Putting more effort into your muscle recovery can improve your overall performance as it allows the body to replenish energy stores and repair damaged tissue.
So head over to our shopping hub to find your perfect muscle recovery partner!