So you’ve finished your workout. Time to reach for the supplements or make yourself a shake, right? Before you do that, check and make sure you’re getting some or all of these essential vitamins that are crucial to promoting good health and your body’s recovery after a workout.
VITAMIN C
Everyone knows that Vitamin C boosts your immune system, but this essential vitamin does a lot more. Vitamin C also improves the body’s iron absorption abilities, allowing the body to repair damaged tissues and recover more quickly after a workout.
Where to Get It: Citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables. (Try blending a few of those leafy vegetables into your next smoothie or shake. You’ll get all the nutrients out of them and barely notice the taste!)
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D increases the flow of calcium in your body’s bloodstream, which leads to a number of nutritional benefits including stronger bones. Vitamin D has also been shown to help relieve athletes suffering from muscle pain.
Where to Get It: Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and eggs.
VITAMIN E
How do you reduce your recovery time while also maximizing your muscle gains following a workout? The answer is Vitamin E. After a workout, your body is particularly vulnerable to free radicals (a specific kind of damaged cell that can cause mayhem in the body by damaging other cells). The best way to combat free radicals is with an antioxidant such as Vitamin E.
Where to Get It: Vegetables such as spinach and broccoli have plenty, but shellfish, including shrimp, can be another good source.
