KNOW YOUR NUTRIENTS

Magnesium is crucial for virtually every process in the human body, from heart to brain to muscles, and it plays a vital role in energy production. So a de ciency – and some estimates suggest 50 per cent of adults are de cient – can hamper recovery, and cause fatigue and muscles cramps. ere’s also evidence that very physically active people need higher levels. As with any nutrient, getting magnesium through your diet is preferable to supplementation – leafy greens, nuts, seeds and whole grains are all good sources. at said, a quality supplement can be used to help top up levels.

“I also recommend Epsom bath salts,” says physiologist Eddie Fletcher. “One of the ways magnesium is best absorbed is through the skin, so a bath is ideal. It can also promote sleep, which in turn bene ts recovery.”