There are two states that are our muscles can be in: anabolic or catabolic. Anabolic means that the body is building muscle, while a catabolic state means the opposite, when muscle tissue is instead being broken down rather than being built. The best thing we can do to speed up recovery and preserve muscle is to keep our anabolic switches turned on throughout the day so our bodies aovide muscle breakdown.
One way to do this is through branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation. A constant stream of leucine-rich amino acids provides muscles with their essential building blocks, resulting in increased muscle protein synthesis, reduced breakdown of muscle tissue, and a greater workout intensity.
Combining BCAAs with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and other amino acids speeds up recovery to an even greater extent. Here are three key supps to further boost recovery and muscle maintenance.
Head-To-Toe Recovery
1. Tart Cherry Extract
Sour cherry is a relatively new supplement to the industry that really packs a punch. It has been show to act as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing muscle soreness after training. Along with curbing muscle soreness, tart cherry may also provide support for healthy joints and promote better sleep.
2. L-Theanine
The tea-derived amino acid helps relaz your mind from the pileup of daily stressors by taking some pressure off the cardiovascular system. This is key in achieving a fully recovered nervous system to get your muscles totally firing before your next workout.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays an important role in growth and development. The vitamin is used to rebuild body tissue and reduce levels of cell-damaging free radicals that are created during exercise. Maintaining a constant supply of vitamin C will help keep unnecessary waste at bay while enhancing recovery.
