When you finish a workout, your body is in a state of repair and your muscles need time to recover. A great to ensure and support muscle recovery is with post-workout stretches. But, another important focus should also be nutrition after a workout. One of the best ways to do that is with a high-quality supplement that can help boost metabolism and energy, reduce inflammation after a workout, and help you shed pounds. It’s no secret that supplements can help improve your results in the gym, but with so many different kinds, it can be tough to know which ones to choose. As it turns out, there’s one vital supplement that many people underestimate: magnesium.
To learn more about the importance of magnesium supplements for post-workout recovery and how you can make sure you’re getting enough of it, we spoke to registered dietitian Catherine Gervacio, nutrition writer for Living.Fit, and a registered dietitian and nutrtionist Krutika Nanavati from Clinicspots. Read on for all of their expert insight.
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Magnesium
Experts agree that magnesium is an important mineral that your body needs in order to function, especially when it comes to recovering from a workout. Magnesium helps you boost energy, regulate blood sugar, conduct nerve impulses, and muscle contraction. Your muscles need magnesium to work properly.
"Magnesium is very important to weight loss because it is involved in many body functions that include: regulation of blood sugar, production of energy, and nerve function, among others," Gervacio says, "One of the key [focuses] of weight loss is to maintain or improve metabolism and magnesium is one mineral that is needed for that." Noted! Plus, magnesium supplement powder can also help with better digestion.
Nanavati agrees, adding that "a magnesium deficiency can make it difficult to lose weight for a few reasons." Another important part of magnesium is the fact that it plays a major role in energy production and metabolism. So, that way after a workout, even if you run into fatigue, you'll still be able to burn enough calories to lose weight.
And, Nanavati explains that magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, which means that, "a deficiency can cause cravings for sugary and carb-rich foods." Giving into these cravings means it will be harder to stay on track with your weight loss goals. To make matters even worse, she points out that "a deficiency can lead to increased fat storage." This is because another function of magnesium is to help the body store less fat. Overall, it's best to make sure you're getting enough magnesium after a workout.
When it comes to optimizing your magnesium levels after a workout, Gervacio adds that "it's best to lessen the intake of alcohol and caffeine as they compete with magnesium absorption." Instead, she suggests sipping on freshly-squeezed fruit juices and vegetable smoothies. If you don't want to take a supplement, Nanavati recommends eating magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, and seeds.
So, next workout, try taking a magnesium supplement to help boost energy, reduce muscle inflammation, and lose weight. Who knows—it could be the push your body needs to reach meet your weight loss goals!
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