Post Massage Nutrition

Thanks steelbladeninja for asking the following: "Is the 30-60 minutes immediately following a deep tissue massage similar to the 30-60 minutes following exercise in nutrient absorption and, other than lots of water, what are your recommendations for feeding post-massage muscles?"

Depending on the type of massage, you can feel like you've just gone through a small workout when you're done. Some sessions involve the therapist working your muscles into deep stretches and breaking up adhesions inside the muscle fibers. Some people will even break into a sweat during a session. Massage helps flush the body of toxins and lymph by increasing circulation. Your body is working to get those toxins out. Water helps to flush your system, it also flushes nutrients. It's important to replenish what your body needs. So aside from some good old fashion H2O, I recommend potassium.

Yummy, Potassium in it's element form

The reason being is that potassium, aside from being fun to say, is a very important mineral for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs in the human body. Potassium also plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction (got a cramp? eat a banana). It will help maintain the proper electrolyte and acid-base balance in your body. Electrolytes keep the amount of water in your body in balance, carry impulses along your nerves, help make your muscles contract and relax. You need electrolytes to carry glucose (blood sugar) and other nutrients into your cells and to carry waste products and extra water out again.

Foods with high sources of potassium include
Avocado - 1/2 medium - 550 mg
Banana - 1 medium - 451
Beef, ground - 3 ounces - 205
Black beans - 1 cup - 801
Broccoli, cooked - 1/2 cup - 228
Cantaloupe - 1 cup - 494
Carrot, raw - 1 medium - 233
Cauliflower, cooked - 1/2 cup - 200
Chicken - 3 ounces - 195
Flounder - 3 ounces - 292
Kidney beans - 1 cup - 713
Kiwi - 1 medium - 252
Lentils - 1 cup - 731
Milk - 8 ounces - 381
Okra - 1/2 cup - 257
Orange - 1 medium - 250
Prune Juice - 8 ounces - 706
Spinach, cooked - 1/2 cup - 419
Strawberries - 1 cup - 247
Sweet potatoes - 1 medium - 397 (personal fav)
Tomato - 1 medium - 397
Tomato juice - 6 ounces - 658
Watermelon - 1 cup - 186

But if you're looking for a two-for-one I suggest coconut water. It has roughly 500g-600g (15%-18%) of potassium per serving. Personally I don't care for the plain flavor so I grab the more fruity kind. It has a bit more sugar, but it's a quick grab and a good replenisher.  Hope that helps and thanks for asking :)


 Vita Coco Original flavor Nutrition facts:


Serving Size 8.5 FL OZ (250ml)
Servings Per Container: 2
Calories from Fat 0, Saturated fat 0g
Sodium 30mg, Potassium 515mg
Total Carb 15g, Protein 0g
Trans fat 0g, Dietary fiber 0g
Sugars 11g, Vitamin A 0%
Calcium 4%, Phosphorous 4%
Vitamin C 100%, Iron 0% 
Magnesium 10%

Just to state it, I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on T.V.  

Consult you PCP before you go changing up your diet because you read something on the internet. 

Be healthy, be smart!