My After Workout Drink

originally posted at http://www.goodfeelingplace.com/my-after-workout-drink
I remember in college one day a nutritionist came and spoke to the gymnastics team and told us that it is important to eat within an hour after working out. He said this would help the muscles rebuild faster. I noticed afterwards that I didn’t feel so wiped out if I ate soon after working out. So 10 years or so later, as I’m trying to get back “in shape”, I have a drink that helps me feel nourished after working out. I don’t spend hours working out now like I did back in college, but I still feel the effects of a half hour of fun, strenuous activity (whether it’s raking leaves or warming up to do circles on my mushroom).

My nourishing after workout tonic is actually a type of medicated milk. I have been allergic to milk for as long as I can remember (I grew up eating cheese-less pizzas, soymilk in my cereal, and “Dreamy Tofu” was my ice cream), but I learned about medicated milk from Dr. Vasant Lad at an Ayurvedic cooking seminar I attended (where I learned how to make poha and chapatis) in New Mexico back in March. The seminar was based on the book Dr. Lad wrote called Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing, which I had been trying to learn from for several months. In the book there are actually a few different kinds of medicated milk, but the one that I like the best is the one with turmeric. The picture above is what I made the other night after doing 45 circles on the mushroom. Here is the recipe (from Dr. Lad’s book, pictured to the left):

“1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 cup milk
1/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients and heat to boiling point. Continue to cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until there is 1 cup of liquid left.
*This is good for pharyngitis, laryngitis and hoarseness of the voice. It is also effective for acute tonsillar congestion and acute kapha-pitta conditions of the lungs. It is a natural antiseptic.”

When I prepare it I don’t use that much water and I cook it on high since I have an electric stove (unlike Dr. Lad who insists on gas stoves, even in the cooking class). I also put the pot into a larger pot or bowl of cold water after cooking to cool it down faster while I keep stirring to prevent a skin forming on the surface.

I was amazed when I tried it for the first time, it actually helped reduce my allergies. I used raw goats milk from a local farm, which we happened to have because we wanted to give Nickalus something better than commercial formula (he joined our family last year when he was 4 months old). I’ve tried pasteurized milk from the store and I reacted badly to it, so I stuck to the raw milk (see www.realmilk.org for a source near you).

About Robert

I competed in gymnastics for 16 years through college at Arizona State University. After 10 years and 5 (now 6) children, I have returned to gymnastics as a competitor. I am a lifetime gymnast. :)
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