The Seven Best Ways to Relieve Muscle Soreness

After a long day at work or an intense exercise session we often get sore and tight muscle, and sometimes even muscle spasms. While we know stretching and proper warm up are important in decreasing muscle soreness, there are some foods and drinks that can help as well.

Check out the full list of seven foods and treatments for tight muscles and aching muscles.

1
Chamomile
Chamomile contains 36 flavonoids, which are compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. You can use chamomile to help relieve muscle tension and stress by massaging chamomile essential oil onto the muscles that are tense in order to provide relief for the muscle spasms. Chamomile tea can also help with relaxing your sore muscles.
2
Cherry Juice
Cherry juice can help combat muscle pain and inflammation that is common in runners. People who run marathons and train vigorously often cause a lot of strain on their muscles. studies reveal that drinking tart cherry juice can minimize post-run pain. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that are in cherries help relax our muscles naturally.
3
Blueberry smoothies
Eating blueberries and making blueberry smoothies is a natural and sweet way to relax your muscles. A recent study suggests that having a blueberry smoothie before and exercise can help accelerate recovery time from muscle damage. Blueberries have antioxidant powers and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress.
4
Cayenne pepper
Capsaicin, a substance that is found in cayenne pepper, is a natural muscle relaxer that's often recommended to people with rheumatoid arthritis and fibermyalgia. You can add cayenne pepper to food or find it as a cream or in capsule form. When you use it as a cream, you apply it to areas affected by muscle spasms.
5
Vitamin D
People who have regular muscle pain or spasms may be deficient in vitamin D. You can find this vitamin in many forms such as capsules, tablets, and liquids. You can find it in eggs, fortified milk, and fish. Getting regular exposure to sunlight is another excellent way of getting your vitamin D.
6
Magnesium
Magnesium is vital for our nutrition because it maintains normal muscle and nerve function. Although its rare, early signs of magnesium deficiency include muscle pain. You can find magnesium in bananas, almonds, legumes, and brown rice.
7
Rest
Perhaps the most natural and best way to relax your muscles is rest. It is very important to make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids, getting lots of sleep, and trying not to overwork affected muscles. Using ice packs and heat pads can provide you with immediate relief. Muscle spasms can sometimes happen due to over-stimulation, so ice can help calm down the transmission of impulses from the brain to the overactive muscle.