Top 5 Recovery Foods
Published by NutriBullet on Thu, 2013-07-25 16:04

Turmeric

Turmeric contains a potent antioxidant called curcumin, which creates glutathione in the body, helping decrease inflammation. Turmeric was also found to have as many anti-inflammatory properties as the medication hydrocortisone.
It stimulates tissue repair, mainly the regeneration of muscle tissue, so turmeric is particularly useful for injuries involving muscle. You can purchase turmeric in powdered form or fresh as a root. (It looks like ginger!)

Tart Cherry Juice

Two, 8 oz glasses of tart cherry juice per day have been shown to decrease muscle soreness and decrease muscle recovery time. It's also been shown to decrease exercise-induced muscle damage. Look for the juice without any added sugar.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3's are essential in the creation of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, which help protect the body. They're also beneficial for long term use to build stores in the body and can help decrease pain from chronic injuries like bursitis and tendonitis. Good animal sources of omega-3s include Alaskan wild salmon, trout, and canned sardines. The best plant source of omega-3 fatty acids are chia seeds; sprinkle them into oatmeal, yogurt or place in water for a fun new twist on staying hydrated.

Cacao Powder

The flavonoids in cacao can help improve circulation and more effectively transport oxygen to muscles during a workout. The increased platelet activity seen during exercise can be decreased by adding cacao to your diet, decreasing the overall stress placed on your heart. A modest amount of naturally-occuring caffeine can give you an added boost of energy. Use cacao nibs or cacao to reap the most health benefits. Best of all, cacao tastes great in stir frys or just sprinkled over yogurt or oatmeal!

Ginger

Gingerols are the powerful antioxidant component of ginger and help the body clear out and eliminate harmful cells. Ginger contains analgesic, antihistamine and anti-toxicity properties in addition to proteolytic enzymes, all of which may be useful for athletic injury relief and repair. Ginger happens to be a close relative to turmeric. It's also great for decreasing pain in people with arthritis when used regularly. You can add ginger directly to a Blast with the skin on or off, you can steep in tea or you can even add it to a stir fry.