Nothing can derail an awesome workout more (other than an injury) than severe muscle soreness from previous workouts. You are trying to exercise more often but after a few hard workouts you are in so much pain that the thought of hitting the gym is making you cringe.
It can be very discouraging and annoying to anyone from beginners, who are trying to get on a regular workout schedule, to seasoned athletes who are training for an important event. While the gold standard for muscle pain has always been to pop some pain medication, I strongly discourage it. I believe that if you are working out to lead a healthy life, the last thing you need to be doing on a regular basis is consuming chemicals that do more harm than good.
Anyone who is serious about getting healthy needs to look for natural alternatives at any cost because that’s how you build a healthy body. So, today let’s address muscle pain. As someone who works out every single day (sometimes twice a day), I don’t want muscle pain to be in the way of my goals.
After extensive research and much trial and error, I’ve discovered that sour cherries are an incredible resource for this very uncomfortable problem. Now, it’s very important to note that it’s sour cherries we are talking about, not the sweet kind that you normally see in the supermarkets. What I suggest to do is when sour cherries are in season, buy a whole bunch and freeze them. They freeze amazingly well. All you need is an ounce or two at a time so it can really last you.
Why are sour cherries so good for muscle pain? For one, they are a powerful antioxidant. And quite possibly one of the most potent ones on the market right now. Also, they have incredible anti-inflammatory properties. They protect your body from muscle damage and reduce pain much better than any drug out there.
So, what’s the most optimal way to use cherries? First, eat a few, like 10 or 12 before a long and strenuous workout. Then at some point after a workout (not necessarily immediately), eat another 10 or 12. If using frozen cherries, you can defrost a bunch and eat them by themselves or add to a yogurt as an evening snack. As a side benefit, it’s been noted that sour cherries also improve sleep quality and duration.