Trusted Health Products
Written By Lizzie Howard / Reviewed By Ray Spotts
Muscle pain is a part of life, especially for active people. It is, therefore, inevitable that everyone will experience some muscle pain from time to time. Stretching can help to prevent it somewhat, but that one measure can only do so much. Here are six ways that you can deal with unpleasant muscle pains whenever they arise.
1. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are natural chemical substances that are found in many common fruits and vegetables. They have often been proven to have anti-aging properties and they have also been proven to reduce muscle soreness. For instance, we might look at this study from Scandinavia.
A group of five marathon runners was put on a steady regimen of tart cherry juice, as it is particularly rich in an antioxidant called anthocyanin. Another group was placed on a placebo (fake medication). The group that drank the cherry juice had much faster recovery times, less soreness, and fewer signs of stress in general.
2. Massage
There is no need to prove that a massage can help to alleviate muscle soreness. This is one of the oldest and surest ways to get those annoying pangs out of your body. The only downside is that you will need the help of a masseuse in order to get the full effects.
Self-massage is possible, but it will be extremely limited. You can use foam rollers and other self-massage devices, but there is no substitute for the real thing. If you can afford it, you might consider calling up a local massage therapist, as long as they have a good reputation. If you are in California, for instance, you might look up massage therapist Temecula.
3. Cold
Exposing sore muscles to something nice and cold can also be very effective. First of all, the cold itself provides a cool, numbing sensation that makes the pain far less noticeable. There are many ways that you can apply this basic concept, with cold packs being the most convenient. Cold-water immersion is another method that has proven to be highly effective.
If you can find a bag of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer, it can be used to make hundreds of cold packs. All you have to do is add it to a sealed Ziploc bag that is half-filled with water. The dissolving of the nitrate produces a chemical reaction that generates cold. Just be careful if you go that route because Ammonium Nitrate has a certain amount of toxicity.
That being said, small amounts of it can be poured on the ground with no problem. Just make sure to keep it away from children and pets.
4. NSAID Medications
NSAID stands for "Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug." These include common pain relievers like Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Naproxen Sodium, and many others. These can be used over-the-counter with little trouble, but you need to be careful. All of these drugs can be dangerous in large amounts, so use them only when needed. They should be used for occasional relief, as you don't want to become dependent on them.
5. Caffeine
Believe it or not, caffeine does help to relieve muscle pains. We wouldn't have believed it either, but this study seems to be pretty conclusive. When they used caffeine to treat people suffering from chronic muscle soreness, the patients reported a 48 percent decrease (overall) in pain and soreness.
Like NSAID medications, caffeine can be harmful in large amounts, but it would take quite a lot to actually do any significant harm. We recommend you stick to natural sources like tea and coffee and avoid overly processed forms like caffeine pills and energy drinks.
6. A Cool-Down Routine
If you are experiencing muscle soreness after workouts, it may be because you didn't cool down properly. Just as the body needs to warm up before intense physical exertion, it also needs to come back down to a normal level afterward. This is done exactly like a warm-up: With a series of low-intensity movements.
Conclusion
These are not the only possible options, but we have found them to be six of the best. With a little research, you can probably find a few more, so don't hesitate to continue learning. We hope that you have enjoyed this article and that you will come back soon.
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Written By:
Lizzie Howard is a Colorado native who after graduating from the University of Colorado spends her time as a freelance writer. When Lizzie isn’t writing, she enjoys going on hikes, baking for her friends and family, and spending time with her beloved yellow lab, Sparky.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
