Is there anything turmeric can’t do? Professional footballer Thomas ‘Hal’ Robson Kanu reveals how incorporating turmeric into your diet can help you make the most out of you workout regime
Are you struggling to sleep, wake up, hit your exercise goals or recover from exertion?
Well you may be interested to know that a popular everyday spice may just be able to help you reach your goals and get better quality sleep.
Turmeric, or rather the curcumin compound of turmeric, is a substance that has innumerable health benefits.
it can assist your body and mind in a variety of circumstances
Having been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, it’s an undeniably incredible ingredient that has been linked to preventing a number of degenerative and deadly diseases including Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease.
Plus it can assist your body and mind in a variety of circumstances, whether you’re at work, working out, resting or rehabilitating.
Here are 5 ways turmeric can assist you before, during and after your workout…
#1 You’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day
Curcumin, the naturally occurring chemical component that gives turmeric its colour, makes a comeback as the sleep squad’s MVP.
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help prevent and treat a variety of health problems that may be interfering with your ability to fall asleep or the quality of your sleep once you do.
Curcumin also boosts serotonin levels and promotes dopamine production. A more positive mindset and lower stress levels generally result in a more pleasant, peaceful sleep.
And, since it’s morning time, how about a quick coffee? Turmeric is a pretty mild spice that typically plays nicely with various flavour characteristics, despite its vivid flair when it comes to its look. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly popular in people’s morning tea and coffee.
#2 Will help to prevent exercise-related injury
You’ve begun your day in the right way – a decent night’s sleep and a piping hot, delicious turmeric-infused tea or coffee.
However, unless you’ve been taking turmeric supplements for a while, taking one if you fall or twist your ankle won’t help much – curcumin isn’t some kind of fast-acting painkiller.
This is because curcumin has been shown to be more effective in preventing inflammation than in reducing it, suggesting that when taken long-term, it might assist with exercise-induced damage.
#3 Will help you workout harder and for longer
We’re not for one minute going to insinuate that you should be consuming turmeric during your workout or exercise routine, but instead discuss the benefits of how taking turmeric long-term can assist with your performance during said workouts.
Missing out on your peak performance may have a negative impact on both your mental and physical energy levels, which is why the two frequently go hand in hand.
Curcumin, is a fantastic ingredient for both physical and cognitive performance.
In itself, it’s not going to fuel your marathon, but combining the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin with foods and drinks rich in electrolytes is sure to keep you going longer and harder than ever before.
#4 Will help you recover quickly after a workout
Many athletes take turmeric on a regular basis to alleviate the symptoms of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
DOMS is not the same as the discomfort you would experience during a workout. This is unique, and it ought to be treated more seriously.
If you start to feel sore when lifting weights or jogging, for example, this might be an acute strain, which is a distinct and more dangerous condition. If this happens, you should cease exercising immediately to avoid additional injury.
The majority of individuals presently manage DOMS symptoms with ice, massage, or painkillers and although many of these therapies can assist with DOMS.
Incorporating curcumin into your long-term diet and combining it with other effective treatments may be very beneficial.
#5 It can help relieve more serious muscle pain (in the long-run)
If the burn continues on a little longer than usual, or if you have some more obvious symptoms of an injury, overexertion could well have been the cause.
The first port of call is to subdue the pain, and this is where most reach straight for the medicine cabinet.
One of our favourite facts is that curcumin has been proven to be as effective as ibuprofen when it comes to relieving pain and inflammation.
Again, turmeric has to have long been an ingredient included in your diet and will not work to relieve pain immediately as a painkiller would.
Start incorporating turmeric into your diet today to reap all the benefits that it can have on each stage of your daily exercise routine, from prevention to pain relief, alongside the innumerable health benefits this incredible ingredient has for our bodies and brains.
For a delicious, convenient and affordable way to begin consuming turmeric, try turmeric shots and begin fortifying your body for anything life throws at it.
If you’re looking to improve your wellbeing, mental health and general lifestyle through the means of functional nutrition, Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu suggests trying an energy-refuelling, brain fog eliminating, health-boosting Raw Turmeric Shot from The Turmeric Co.
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