YOUR RECOVERY NIGHTCAP

The several hours of shut-eye you get each night are crucial to the shape of your physique. here's what to eat before bed to make the most of your workout recovery.

By M&F Hers Staff

April 30, 2009

MUSCLEANDFITNESSHER.COM

>> Help your blissful slumber be an exercise in muscle recovery with a nighttime snack of 1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese or low-fat plain yogurt and a cup of decaffeinated green tea. By eating dairy right before bed, you give yourself "an amino-acid drip throughout the night," says Shawn Talbott, PhD, author of Natural Solutions for Pain-Free Living: Lasting Relief for Flexible Joints, Strong Bones and Ache-Free Muscles. Since the casein protein in dairy is digested slowly, amino acids are released gradually into the bloodstream. That means your body will have a steady stream of the amino acids it needs for the tissue-building process. As for the green tea, it contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can help you relax and drop off into a deep sleep a bit easier. Just be sure to drink decaffeinated green tea.

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