Anti-inflammatory Herbs can help improve your athletic performance and drop weight ~ Creatively Cultured

When trying to improve our athletic performance or trying to drop weight, we already know it's important to maintain a regular workout routine to increase your physical performance and reduce recovery time from injury. But the struggle for many of us is having lactic acid built up that is produced naturally in our body during exercise which can cause inflammation.

Typically, this inflammation supposedly goes away after a couple of days and if you keep working out, it's supposed to disappear. I remember when I was 285lb and I wanted to lose 100lbs, every time I tried being consistent, I would have astronomical pain for days and days. I'd try working out through it, salt baths and stretching. It wasn't enough.

I lost 100lbs but I never wanted to go back to the gym because I couldn't live a normal life being in that much pain. Not that I stopped trying because I eventually went to my BMI checked (Body Mass Index), I found out that I was prone to fat storage. Did you know according to a study conducted by the National Institute of health, approximately 85% of the People who lose weight regain it back within 2 years?

The body has a natural tendency to return to it's original set point when trying to lose weight.
Changes in your hormones can trigger weight gain and inflammation as well.

The lactic acid that built up in my body never went away. So I decided to just accept the pain. Then I would go through these long plateaus until where my weight went up and down. Until I learned about inflammation from a new client that sat in my chair at the salon.

What really works to keep the weight off

She was a holistic health practitioner and a colon-hydro therapist that introduced me to anti-inflammatory food and herbs, it really changed my life! I was able to do more research from their and achieve my goals of getting my weight down to being a size 12 like I was in High School (that was my size, I've never been in the single digits even as a kid) so that's my normal healthy weight.

I noticed right away after drinking aloe vera juice or ginger tea that I wouldn't be sore and could continue to work out daily. For some of us the level of soreness from the inflammation is so painful and stiffening that it's difficult to be stay consistent. I'm telling you what I know from my personal experience. But I will state here that these are my experiences because every body is different however there are many studies that prove anti-inflammatory diets have many benefits.

So in terms of diet, I know that most plans will say to drop the seasonings. I agree with the minimal salt intake but herbs and spices are different and have many healing properties.

Also, inflammation is caused by not warming up the body enough before strenuous exercise, overdoing exercises and not having enough variety to learn to find the right balance for your needs. This is me below, hiding my body at 25 and then this is me at 45.

Keeping most of this weight off would have never been possible if I hadn't of incorporated those into my diet. I was never skinny growing up, so I can speak from a perspective of always being a plus size even as a kid that anti-inflammatory foods work for those of us who may be pre-dispositioned to fat storage.

Here are 5 anti-inflammatory herbs that boosted my athletic performance and reduced my recovery time.

Cinnamon. This spice is known for its anti- inflammatory properties and has been shown to reduce muscle soreness after exercise which is exactly what worked for me. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, making it a great choice for endurance athletes. You can put a teaspoon in your smoothie, make a tea with cinnamon sticks or add it to some of your food recipes.
Cloves. Cloves contain eugenol, a natural anti-inflammatory compound. It has been shown to help reduce pain and swelling, making it a useful ingredient in post workout recovery. Try crushing 2 or 3 up finely, boiling in your teapot with water and adding cinnamon to it. You can drink a couple of cups a day and it's very warming for those cold days, also controls the appetite.

Ginger. Ginger has become very popular and is well known for being an anti-inflammatory herb to treat a variety of ailments, including muscle and joint pain. It has also been shown in research to improve exercise performance and reduce muscle soreness. I can absolutely testify to how life changing it was for me when I started making a tea with it after peeling the ginger root. Sometimes I make raw ginger shots too when I don't have time and no matter which way you choice to prepare, it works.

Turmeric. Turmeric is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory herbs available. It contains curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound that has been shown to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in the body. It is also a natural pain reliever, making it a great choice for post workout recovery. Combining Ginger and Turmeric is an excellent natural super tonic that's given me amazing results. I buy the root herb, peel it and boil it in my teapot with about 2 quarts of water and let it sit for about 30 minutes before drinking. I've also incorporated into a lot of my meals by cooking Indian food which uses all these herbs in most of their recipes.
Nutmeg. This spice called myristicin, is a natural anti-inflammatory compound that has been shown to reduce pain and swelling. It is also a natural pain reliever, making it a great addition to your post-workout recovery routine. Most international and Indian markets carry the whole nutmeg that are shaped in small balls. I grade that up and add it to my hot water then letting it sit for a couple of minutes before drinking. Just like as mentioned above, you can add any of the other herbs with it to your food or for a tea.

Incorporating these anti-inflammatory herbs into your meal plan can help improve your athletic performance by reducing inflammatory, minimizing recovery time and improving overall health.

Remember to always consult your Doctor before adding any new herbs or supplements to your routine. I've seen phenomenal results with my recovery time through the years and am happy to share with you things that actually work

Creatively Cultured