If you’re into fitness, intense or occasional, you will be sore. Soreness is caused by the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles. This type of soreness should be distinguished from soreness caused by extreme physical activity. The latter type of soreness is generally caused by inflammation that is caused by muscle cell damage. However, even with soreness caused by working out, inflammation may be present depending upon on intense the workout is. Therefore, the question should be asked “should you eat food that contains anti-inflammatory phytonutrients?” I say the answer is “yes”, but it is dependent upon your personal experience. So why not try to eat anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and see how it impacts you.
There are studies that show that eating foods that help with inflammation will reduce inflammatory markers like c-reactive protein in the blood. Foods that will do this are cherries (about 45 of them a day), mushrooms, nuts and purple potatoes. In fact, doctors are now using plant-based diets to treat inflammatory conditions.
For soreness, cherries and cherry juice can reduce the amount of soreness suffered. A recent study showed that after a tough bicep workout, an athlete will suffer serious soreness, in addition to a 30% drop in short term. But, if athletes are given cherry juice the amount of soreness was decreased along with the short term, strength loss. Other studies have showed that cherry juice also works on reducing muscle soreness in long-distance runners. Drinking cherry juice also speeds recovery after a marathon. While more research is necessary, there is enough for me to recommend that you try it and see what is the impact on you.
