We all need our beauty sleep and when you wake up in the morning after a good night’s sleep you feel like you can conquer the world. You feel energized and relaxed, ready for the challenges ahead!
Being unable to fall asleep, on the other hand, will make you cranky, ill-willed and tired, unable to seize the day. One of the most common reasons for difficulties sleeping is muscle pain. It can be so excruciating that you pray to God it stops somehow. In those moment of pain we’re all weak and reach out for the painkiller, when instead there are some natural alternatives that can make the pain go away much easier.
Two Spices for Muscle Pain
According to a study from Iran’s Isfahan University of Medical Sciences cinnamon and ginger have the capacity to relieve muscle pain in young female athletes. They concluded that just 3g of cinnamon or ginger every day is enough to significantly reduce post-exercise muscle pain in as little as 6 weeks.
Ginger and cinnamon contain some extremely beneficial compounds, especially when it comes to muscle pain. Ginger is rich in gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone, all of which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon on the other hand, abounds in cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, and cinnamyl alcohol and nutrients like manganese, iron, and calcium, all of which impede the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines
Ginger
Ginger is most definitely one of the most powerful spices. It has been proven to help with ulcers, fights free radical, inhibits lipid peroxidation and protects DNA. If that wasn’t enough, ginger is known to contain anticancer properties; a study even says that “ginger extract might prove to be beneficial as a complementary agent in cancer prevention and maintenance therapy”. Additionally, ginger is believed to enhance the working memory and reduce stress-induced cognitive impairment.
Cinnamon
Here we have another healing spice, linked to numerous health benefits. Cinnamon can lower your blood sugar and cholesterol levels in doses of 1, 3 and 6 grams a day. You only need to consume it for 40 days straight and experience these amazing benefits. It can also to improve lipid metabolism, increase insulin sensitivity, antioxidant status, and capillary function. But in order to get these results you need to consume doses of 6gr. and more for long-lasting effects. Even its bark is health beneficial, it contains antimicrobial properties effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria.
How to Use Ginger and Cinnamon for Muscle Pain
If you’d like to try these spices out and ease your muscle pain here’s what you can do:
You can make ginger tea, ginger ale or add it as a spice to your soups and smoothies.
Cinnamon, well cinnamon can make everything taste better. You can improve the flavor of your oatmeal, add it to a cup of yogurt, or sprinkle into your coffee. Consume it as you see fit, just make sure you’re consuming the right type of cinnamon. Doctors recommend Ceylon cinnamon because it contains the lowest amount of coumarine (a neurotoxin and liver toxin), which is very important if you consume it on a daily basis!
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