We’ve all heard the remarkable upsides of physical activity. Regular exercise is linked to so many benefits, including more restful sleep and better energy, stronger bones and healthy weight, and even increased lifespan. Exercise is so important that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention make it a cornerstone for healthy living, recommending adults get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week and do muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days.
What government guidelines aren’t mentioning, though, is making time for the behind-the-scenes work your body does to stay fit. Exercise essentially puts your body through systematic physical stress. Whether it’s yoga, weight-training, running, cycling, swimming, or another fave activity, a good workout causes microscopic damage at a cellular level. This physical stress then leads the body to repair and strengthen, and ultimately builds fitness.
So when you plan your weekly workout time, build in disciplined recovery between workouts to really reap the benefits. Give your body the right ingredients to hone strength, speed, and endurance. Below are 5 ways you can take great care of your recovering body between workouts, to help you feel and perform your best!
- Foam roll—Take time to massage muscle groups with a stiff foam roller or other roller device. This type of self-massage can work certain spots deeply, relieving tension, pain, and tightness to help with overall recovery and flexibility.
- Hydrate—It’s common knowledge that bears repeating: If you feel thirsty, you’re already slightly dehydrated. Drink water or other fluids during exercise if you can, and aggressively re-hydrate after working out. Water helps muscle tissue, cushions joints, and also flushes toxins as you recover from exercise.
- Supplement—Purely herbal supplements can support effective recovery, and promote strong workouts, too. Choose New Chapter’s Daily Workout & Recovery for well-researched ingredients including Astaxanthin, a clinically studied phytonutrient from algae that activates energy at the cellular level and supports healthy immune defenses. It also has Ginger to soothe sore muscles.* Learn more about how Daily Workout & Recovery enhances daily fitness pre-workout, during workouts, and post-workout.*
- Fuel—Getting protein soon after a workout gives your body tools to rebuild. Replenishing carbohydrates is also essential, since they get stored as glycogen—your body’s workout fuel. So your post-workout protein-carb combo could be something like yogurt and berries, a glass of an easy protein powder shake, or tuna on whole-grain bread. Make it easy and delicious!
- Sleep—Adequate sleep is a crucial part of feeling the benefits of being active. Sleep lets your body focus on repair, hormone release, and is even linked to better decision-making skills. Adults should generally get 7+ hours of sleep a night.
What supplements are you taking or thinking of adding to your regimen? We love to hear what’s working for you and your well-being.
