As I’m sitting at my desk right now, I’m in a lot of pain. My thighs, hamstrings, glutes and feet are in the glorious throes of post-workout agony.
After a couple month-long hiatus from high-impact workouts, like laps on the track, my chiropractor gave me the all-clear to start running again. But she followed it up with a word of advice—drink cherry juice concentrate.
Apparently, the micro-nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties in cherries can reduce muscle soreness as well as promote joint function. And because I know how hard it is to start running after a long break, especially thanks to aching muscles, I made sure to pick up Lakewood’s Pure Black Cherry juice on my way home.
www.lakewoodjuices.com
So now in addition to the turmeric supplement I take daily for my lower back issues, I also drink cherry juice before my workout and then add it to a fruit smoothie, or other fruit juice, afterward. The cherry juice is not made from concentrate and is made without any water, so I like to dilute it a little to make it last longer.
With cherries, turmeric and lots of ice, my painful muscles recover a lot quicker and I’m slowly starting to enjoy running for the first time.
Photo by dklimke/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dklimke/
For more muscle recovery and pain relief tips check out these past articles:
• Body Care for Active People by Laurel Vukovic
• The Best Herbs for Pain Relief by Gina Mohammed, Ph.D.
To learn more about cherries’ many wonders, check out:
• Berries for Better Health by Kris Wetherbee
• Great Fresh Juice On the Go by Allison Martin
• Meet the Superfruits by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa
What do you do to relieve post-workout pain? Have cherries helped you before? Leave me a comment and let me know.