Supplements can be helpful for those of us taking part in regular workout sessions, so we can get the most from our exercises, and help us reach our goals. Supplements can help when it comes to endurance and performance, but they can also be great for helping your body to recover after intense training. We all know the feeling that comes after an intense session – heavy, sore muscles that can make it difficult to stay on track. There is a range of supplements you can take advantage of to enhance and speed up recovery – whether you’re looking for the best supplements for runners, or supplements for those that enjoy lifting heavy weights – there is something to suit everyone. Below, we’ll look at the top 5 recovery supplements to help your body rest and recover.
1- Creatine
Creatine is a substance that many of us will be familiar with, as it is most popularly used in supplements – whether you’re building muscle, improving performance, or in this instance, recovering from a hard workout. Creatine is naturally present in the body, and levels can change from person to person, but taking a supplement means you can increase levels and enhance your recovery easily. Increasing your body’s stores of creatine means you can speed up recovery, allowing you to feel prepared to take on your next workout.
2- Whey protein
Another popular substance used to enhance workouts and your body’s ability to take on intense exercise is whey protein. Even if you’ve never used supplements before, it’s likely that you’ll have heard of whey products. It’s derived from dairy and is a great way of increasing your general intake of protein to help with muscle growth, but it can also be helpful when it comes to recovering from workouts too. When you exercise, tiny tears appear in your muscles – which is what helps them to grow. Implementing whey protein into your diet means you can speed up recovery by adding essential amino acids to your body.
3- L-carnitine
This substance is another that is already present in our bodies. It’s responsible for burning fat so the body can use it as energy but taking it in the form of a supplement can be a great way to speed up overall recovery from a difficult workout. This substance helps to alleviate muscle injury and helps to reduce cellular damage within the body which can come about when suffering from those post-workout aches and pains. L-carnitine allows you to prepare yourself for your next hard workout, without having to worry about your muscles being sore from previous exercises – allowing you to stay on track.
4- BCAAS
Branched-chain amino acids are essential to the way our bodies work, especially if you’re a keen gym-goer or athlete. Many of us don’t get enough of them from our diet, which is why taking them in the form of a supplement can be helpful. They are recommended for those of us that are looking to support muscle repair and recovery after a hard workout. BCAAs can help to rebuild muscle tissue and slow the breakdown of muscles, allowing you to maintain muscle mass and complete your workouts as necessary.
5- Electrolytes
You lose electrolytes when you sweat, and it’s incredibly important that you replenish them after a particularly intense session. Electrolytes refer to nutrients that are essential to keep the body working as it should, for example, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. To keep your body in good condition, and to ensure you’re supporting it before, during, and after long workouts, adding an electrolyte-based supplement or drink can be advantageous to keep your body working as it should and keep you feeling healthy and focused.
