From recovery to results: The power of post-exercise nutrition in enhancing fitness
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE
The regional head of the department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Max Healthcare, New Delhi, Ritika Samaddar said that one of the most important facets of fitness journey is exercise recovery. “It not only determines how one feels, post workout, but also his or her ability to show up at the gym the next day. Better recovery may reduce fatigue and muscle soreness and allow one to indulge in better or more intensive training in the days to follow,” she opined.
Calling nutrition as a key to exercise recovery, she said that the sports nutrition industry is estimated to grow to USD 3.31 billion by 2033, up from the current 1.79 billion. “Both fitness enthusiasts and occasional exercisers are beginning to understand the role of nutrition in muscle repair and strength,” she stated.
She further said that almonds as one simple post workout nutrition hack has proven results. “A recent study among the occasionally active, healthy/mildly overweight, middle-aged adults found that regular almond consumption for eight weeks resulted in an almost 25 percent reduction in muscle soreness over the cumulative 72-hour exercise recovery period which helped improve muscle performance in a vertical jump challenge,” she said, adding that almonds have protein, antioxidants and phytonutrients that collectively aid exercise recovery with 28 g almonds providing six g of protein.
“Another study with people who exercised less than thrice a week demonstrated that snacking on almonds daily for four weeks enhanced recovery post workout, increased leg and lower back strength and reduced fatigue and tension,” she added.
