6 Magnesium-Rich Foods To Help Your Body Recover
If you are a client of mine, you would know how much I talk about the importance of post-workout nutritional support. Yes, you need your protein, but this is not the only nutritional food you must have after a workout. Magnesium-rich foods followed by potassium is as important for recovery as is protein. Read on to learn foods to help your body recover.
With the lack of magnesium and potassium, you are likely to experience cramps or muscle spasms. These two electrolytes are responsible for pH levels and influence the amount of water in your body. A high body temperature, sweating, and dehydration are a few reasons you may have low levels of magnesium.
Magnesium is calming but also makes you happy. It helps to relax the muscles and to reduce anxiety by maintaining the nervous system balance. It is also involved in the synthesis of protein and assists with the function of enzymes throughout the body.
Are you a stressed person? Magnesium is lost during stressful times.
I’m often asked: Where can I find more magnesium in my diet? What a great question!
Top Magnesium-Rich Foods to help your body recover
You may want to take a supplement form if you require higher doses, but try to start including in some of the below nutritional forms of magnesium-rich foods for that additional hit of magnesium in your diet:
Buckwheat
This amazing gluten-free versatile seed contains a huge 229 mg per serving.
Leafy green vegetables
A great source of magnesium, baby spinach, kale and other leafy green vegetables contain the magnesium in the center of the chlorophyll molecule (this is what gives the vegetable its green color). In fact, 1 cup of spinach offers a huge 156 mg per serving. Have you ever wondered if you can eat beet leaves? Well, you can! And they are so rich in magnesium that 1 cup offers almost 100 mg per serving. Start adding these pretty leaves to your salads or stir fry.
Broccoli
This is another favorite veggie of mine for many reasons, but 1 cup holds approximately 22 mg of magnesium.
Beans, Nuts, Seeds, and Whole (unrefined) Grains
These can all also be great sources of magnesium.
Almonds and Cashews
These are not only great at calming us down, but about half a cup offers you 135 mg of magnesium. Just make sure they are organic and raw.
Chocolate
Lastly, I know you are all asking – but what about chocolate? Well, a cup of cocoa actually contains 420 mg of magnesium. So, yes, there is a good chance some dark chocolate every now and then won’t hurt at all.