Eliminate inflammation and you will be well on your way to optimizing your training and being able to perform at your highest level. It is the root of all disease, dysfunction, and discomfort.
It’s something that many of us are afflicted with, but have become so used to due to our culture being built around processed foods and sedentary behavior. And when we do move and train, we are pressured by this “no pain, no gain” mantra that leads to us breaking our bodies down rather than building them up.
Different Tools To Treat Inflammation
There are countless tools we can use to bring down inflammation, with some working better than others depending upon our natural predisposition.
Now remember, all our bodies are different, so what works for me may not work for you… and vice versa. But I seek for this to be some food for thought to inspire you in being healthier and feeling better!
Mobility Work
This targets joints by “lubricating” them by secreting synovial fluid as well as increasing circulation and shuttling oxygen to the worked area.
Breathing Exercises
Like the WiM Hof method and some of Patrick McKeown’s work that I’ve covered before, the more oxygen you efficiently deliver to your body’s tissues, the more repair will take place.
Proteolytic Enzymes & Apple Cider Vinegar
Wobenzym Proteolytic Enzymes are a supplement I use every morning on an empty stomach. They help speed up the recovery process, which make it a staple for performance athletes and those coming back from injury.
I use the apple cider vinegar at this time to coat my stomach. Much current research points to systemic inflammation starting in the gut.
Herbs, Fish Oil, and Vitamin D
Turmeric is a wonder herb for its anti-inflammatory benefits. I’ve found that pairing it with ginger, fish oil, and vitamin D creates a good compounding effect.
Nature Walks
Another great anti inflammatory/relaxing modality are longer walks on uneven terrain. Walking trails always distributes the weight differently throughout your body.
By this happening the “biomechanical faults” in your body are constantly being challenged, forcing it to find a sense of homeostasis and equilibrium, or shall we even say, “balance your chi.”
The circulation then really gets shuttled around your body due to the movement and terrain changes, plus walking in scenic settings with more trees has more abundance of oxygen. This will help to kick your body into a more parasympathetic state, giving you more ability to recover.
Final Considerations
An overarching theme in decreasing inflammation is to train at an intensity that allows you to train another day. Yes, you will have to redline yourself at times, but NEVER make this a habit. Save that for game day when you can let it all out.
Training is about ACCUMULATION. You can’t accumulate quality training if your body is constantly breaking down by training at too high of an intensity for too long.
Get your hard training in and be sure to balance it with the practices I covered today. You will be well on your way to mastery and optimal training/performance.
I cover more performance training tidbits with my ebook “The Foundations of Movement Autonomy, Vitality, and Performance” that will help you prepare, recover, and perform better on the mats!
