If you partake regularly in sports and fitness, injury can be infuriating as it sets you back. The recovery process can sometimes be long and painful, but with today’s modern medicine we are able to fix these injuries far quicker. However, some of us chose to opt for more natural approaches to our health, and sports recovery is no different. With an increasingly popular interest in alternative healthcare and natural remedies, there are many ways in which you can help that pesky strain or fracture. Let’s take a look at five of the most established methods to aid sports recovery, all of which only use natural products.
1. The R.I.C.E method-
No, this doesn’t involve holding a bag of basmati on your leg. The RICE method stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This method is used by most everyone when they are injured and is all natural. Having a decent amount of rest is essential to recovering from any injury, you can use ice to reduce pain, and wrap your leg to prevent swelling. Finally elevate for a natural way of draining fluid from the area of injury.
2. Top Up On your Essential Fatty Acids-
Omega 3 fatty acids have the potential to prevent injury to nerves but also to regenerate them. This can effectively aid sports recovery in a natural way through the nutrition of your body. These fatty acids can be found in oily fish, nuts, and seeds. Moreover, the fatty acids are essential to the body as they also function as an energy source.
3. CBD Products
Despite the negative association to recreational drugs, CBD products can be hugely beneficial to sports recovery. Recent years have seen a surge in the use of CBD products, especially in the fitness world. The CBD, or Cannabidiol, works to help relieve pain and has been endorsed by many famous athletes, such as Mike Tyson and Olympian Megan Rapinoe. CBD is an all natural product, made from cannabis and hemp plants, making it a great choice for sports recovery due to its anti- inflammatory properties and stress reducing effects. It is no surprise that there has been a huge increase in athletes who use the chemical in day-to-day life. If you’ve got a sports injury you can’t shift, why not try CBD products today?
4. Turmeric/ Curcumin
Curcumin is the active compound of turmeric. The south Indian spice not only works to make your dishes delicious but can also aid in sports recovery. Turmeric is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties for reducing swelling and inflammation. Simply put 150 mg of turmeric into a glass of hot water or milk and consume the mixture. This will soon have the desired anti-inflammatory effects to help heal and recover the injury.
5. Salt/Epsom Salt
A very budget friendly option, epsom salts are a very common method to relieve pain from injury. This wholly natural solution has a simple application, just two cups of epsom salts to a hot bath and soak in it. The magnesium in the epsom salts will help to reduce inflammation and swelling. Epsom salts are a great method to help sports recovery as they are both cost effective and practical.
