Summer is here and many people use this season as a time to get into the best shape of their lives. I’ve personally been on a muscle-gain program for the past couple of months, and it’s been really fun experimenting with a variety of herbs that help my body shed fat while creating lean muscle tissue. I feel stronger, more muscular, and leaner than ever before – and I really believe that the various muscle building herbal tea blends I’ve been using daily have helped tremendously.
When it comes to building muscle there are two key things that need to happen: the body needs to be loaded with enough nourishment to build those new muscles, and the current muscles need to be worked in order to encourage new growth and show the body that more muscle size will be helpful in the future. While there are countless diets, supplements, bars, and shakes out there – many of them really great for gaining muscle tone and size – a good base in herbal nourishment is a great idea. I’ve found that adding medicinal herbs to my overall workout program has helped me reach my goals faster while feeling stronger, recovering quicker, and staying more positive and empowered overall.
Today I’m going to introduce you to my favorite herbs for building muscle. We’ll look at just a few of the best herbs I think are worth looking at, and we’ll explore how they can help you reach the results you’re after.
Dong Quai
This classic Chinese herb has been used for centuries to help build up life energy within the body and create an environment where healing and longevity can happen naturally. Dong Quai is a protective and nourishing herb that finds its way into many Chinese herbal blends.
When it comes to building muscle, dong quai increases energy naturally in a non-stimulant way so that you can push harder in your workouts and feel more empowered while you do it. Once the workout is over, this amazing herb gets to work helping your muscles repair and rebuild so that your recovery time is shorter and your muscles can size up easier.
Raspberry
The leaves of the raspberry plant are packed with nutrients that go a long way for people who workout, lift, or participate in any kind of sports. Vitamins A, B, C, E, calcium, niacin, citric acids, iron, magnesium potassium, silicon, selenium, and zinc all make an appearance in this light, refreshing herbal tea – and your muscles will love you for it!
I love making iced herbal tea with raspberry leaves and berries. It’s super refreshing and it makes a great post-workout tea on its own.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a traditional Ayurvedic herb that shows up in many Indian healing blends. Its name means ‘horse sweat’ which references how it smells and the level of vigor and vitality it can give us when we drink it!
Ashwagandha herbal tea is loaded with antioxidants that help fight off cellular damage in the muscles and all the body’s tissues. It also helps raise energy levels naturally while helping the body fight off the effects of stress and strain at the same time. Drinking this herbal tea can help dramatically increase workout session times and how hard you’re able to push which can help you break through into the next level of gain, training, or fat loss. It’s a must-try for anyone who wants to work harder and sweat more!
Fenugreek
The same fenugreek herb used in cooking is also packed with nourishment that could help you meet your muscle building goals.
Tea made from the fragrant seeds of organic fenugreek are loaded with plant proteins that feed your muscles so they grow bigger and stronger.The minerals, vitamins, and proteins in fenugreek herbal tea make it a famous choice for people who want increased muscle size and quicker recovery times – it’s a great option for people on a plant-based diet!
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is famous as a food for race and work horses – and there’s a reason for it. This herb, native in use to Arabia where it was prized as the father of all herbs for horse strength, is loaded with minerals and vitamins that can increase strength, vitality, energy, recovery, and a sense of wellness overall.
Traditional herbalists often suggest alfalfa tea to people who have been sick as a tonic to get them healthy and happy as quickly as possible. I love adding this herb to all of my post-workout and nourishing blends because it gives my body some amazing nutrition in a completely plant-based way.
As you can see, there are lots and lots of options for herbal teas that can power up the body for long, intense workouts while also helping muscles recover fast and get bigger faster. These herbs are all worth looking into if you’re spending time in the gym, on the mat, in your running shoes, or at the park doing free athletics!
Here are three other posts that you might enjoy…
How To Take An Herbal Tea Bath – Your muscles will thank you!
How To Make Iced Herbal Tea – Perfect for healthy workout drinks!
Enjoy!
Resources:
Zak, Victoria. 20,000 Secrets Of Tea. Dell Publishing, 1999. Print.
“5 Herbs For Muscle Growth.” Super Herbal Foods.