If you are a fitness enthusiast, you will probably know the feeling of extreme soreness that sets in after a strenuous session. But the pain can take you unaware as a beginner because it is bad enough to get you off track. Either way, workout soreness can disrupt your fitness plan and affect the results in the long run. You cannot expect things to work if you miss exercise every other day because the pain forces you to stay in bed.
But you cannot avoid it altogether because strenuous exercise can cause microscopic tears in the muscles and drain vital nutrients and energy. Popping a painkiller sounds like a feasible option to relieve the soreness but it does not really help. You may find yourself becoming habitual, and side effects may surface over time. A natural approach is far better to address post-workout stress effectively. Here are some expert-backed tips to help deal with the woes and stay ahead of your fitness goals.
Eat for recovery
Surprisingly, the right diet can take you a step close to healing from post-workout stress. Foods high in protein, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants give you more than energy for long sessions of exercise. They also help to repair muscles and relieve stress after a strenuous workout. Try superfoods like beet juice, as they can do wonders for healing from extreme soreness. Besides eating right, steer clear of inflammation-inducing foods such as sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. These foods may give you a temporary kick, but they end up causing further stress on the body.
Stay hydrated
Besides a healthy diet, you must focus on good hydration to deal with workout soreness. Water facilitates blood flow to the muscles and ensures the provision of necessary proteins and electrolytes for muscle repair after workout wear and tear. Hydration also keeps your energy levels on track by making up for the loss of water and salts through sweat. Keep a water bottle at hand during your session, and load up enough during the day to ensure optimal levels of hydration.
Stay hydrated. Exercise photo created by freepik.
Address inflammation
Muscle soreness after exercise is not only about superficial pain. The real culprit is inflammation caused by tears or sports injuries, which causes pain, soreness, and swelling in severe cases. You can address these issues by resolving the root of the problem. Anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, turmeric, and garlic help, while you can also try supplements to speed up the recovery process. CBD makes an excellent remedy as it heals inflammation and soothes pain. You can try top-quality CBD gummies for sustainable pain relief as edibles work slowly but deliver lasting results. The best part is that they do not make you high and habitual.
Try stretching
A muscle-busting workout can cause tightness in your muscles, which makes moving harder the next time you exercise. The tightness can aggravate severe pain and soreness, so you must deal with it sooner than later. Luckily, low-impact stretching before and after workouts eases you back into the routine. Embracing it as a habit is a great idea as it helps you warm up your muscles and prevent injury. You can seek advice from your trainer and integrate stretching exercises into your daily schedule.
Get adequate sleep
The easiest way to accelerate recovery from workout soreness is by getting a good night’s sleep. The body synthesizes proteins and growth hormones during sleep, and these nutrients repair and create new cells. Sleep also reduces mental stress and restores energy after a tough session of exercise. But you may have a hard time sleeping when your muscles ache constantly. However, sleeping pills should be the last resort as they do more harm than food. Once again, CBD can come to your rescue because it induces sleep naturally without side effects or habit formation.
Good sleep. Sleeping man photo created by fxquadro
Try topical remedies
Localized pain is a common form of post-workout soreness you have to deal with. You can try topical remedies for local pain relief instead of relying on painkillers. Applying heat or ice to the affected area soothes the soreness and accelerates recovery. A warm bath in a tub infused with essential oils gives lasting relief. Massage with essential oils or a topical anti-inflammatory cream also helps to release the stress in a specific spot and get your muscles moving again.
Post-workout soreness is a reality for all fitness buffs, regardless of their experience and regularity. The best way to deal with it is naturally as painkillers do more harm than good in the long run. Try these remedies to get yourself back on track sooner than later.
