The ultimate shake for when you want to feel like you’re on a beach vacation after a workout. The Lypo-Spheric® Recover shake is a frothy, creamy, virgin margarita packed with science-backed nutrients for post-workout recovery.
Coconut water is the base. Not only does it provide a natural tropical sweetness, but it’s a great source of electrolytes. Nicknamed “nature’s Gatorade,” coconut water is an effective way to hydrate after a workout as it replenishes electrolytes that you lose in sweat. Electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium) monitor the fluid levels in our cells. Unchecked fluid levels can cause cells to balloon or shrivel, ultimately resulting in cell death.
The sprinkle of Himalayan pink salt adds a little extra sodium, the electrolyte that is most depleted from sweat. And it makes the Recovery shake a little more reminiscent of a margarita.
Watermelon brings its own dose of electrolytes and natural sweetness, in addition to one compelling amino acid. Multiple studies indicate that L-Citrulline may be effective in relieving muscle soreness after a workout. Researchers also say it can inhibit the production of free radicals during a workout, leading to less oxidative stress. Exercise is a stressor that creates free radicals. Some argue that these free radicals are necessary for strength adaptations, so inhibiting them would hamper muscular fitness gains. Others say that accumulating free radicals has a cascading deleterious effect on health, so taking antioxidants for workout recovery helps rather than hinders adaptations.
As a purveyor of high-dose antioxidants that have helped thousands of people all over the world achieve better health, we are staunch supporters of their benefits outweighing any postulated effects on diminishing strength gains. The best athletes don’t just pay attention to their nutrition for performance, but for overall health. If they’re not giving their bodies the nutrients for proper functioning, how will they be well enough to make gains at the gym?
That’s why we spike this shake with Lypo-Spheric® Vitamin C. Our customers, who include professional athletes, tell us how they use our products as part of their recovery protocol. Vitamin C in particular is helpful for athletes because it’s not just your muscles that need recovery after exercise. Weight training and running, for example, stress your joints. Collagen is the primary component of ligaments, the connective tissue that surrounds your joints. And you need Vitamin C to produce it.
Intense exercise also temporarily suppresses the immune system. Since Vitamin C supports more than 20 immune system functions, it can be helpful in mitigating this unfortunate effect of exercise.
And what post-workout shake would be complete without a complete protein? Exercise breaks down muscle, which is an essential part of making you fitter and stronger. You just need to use your diet to repair it. That’s where protein comes in. Protein synthesis is the process of creating new muscle protein to repair and strengthen the muscles. This process depends on the consumption of dietary protein immediately after your workout.
Your body breaks nutritional protein into amino acids. For the protein you consume to be effective in repairing your muscles, it must include the nine essential amino acids that your body can’t make on its own. Whey protein is just about synonymous with post-workout at this point. It contains all the essential amino acids (which makes it “complete”) and it digests quickly. Egg protein powder is complete as well, but collagen and most plant protein sources (with the exception of hemp protein) are not.
And while we’re on the topic of macronutrients, let’s talk about the moderately high carbohydrate content of this shake. Exercise depletes our glycogen, the glucose from dietary carbs stored in your muscles and liver to be used as fuel. To have the energy to perform basic activities of living after exercise, you need to replenish these stores by consuming carbohydrates. These molecules are also responsible for muscle growth, which you want whether you’re looking to “tone up,” slim down, or compete for Mr. Universe.
How to Make the Recover Shake
Ingredients:
- 8 oz. coconut water
- 1 cup watermelon
- 1 tsp. lime juice
- 1 sprinkle Himalayan pink salt
- 1 scoop unflavored whey/egg white/complete plant-based protein powder
- 1 packet of Lypo-Spheric® Vitamin C
Instructions:
- Blend the coconut water, watermelon, lime juice, protein powder, and salt into a puree.
- Pour an ounce of the shake into your LivOn Labs shot glass.
- Squeeze a packet of Lypo-Spheric® Vitamin C into the shot glass.
- Throw it back like any other shot.
- Pour the remainder into a shaker bottle and take it to the gym
