Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “My wife and I have been doing more outside activities, and are experiencing a lot more soreness and pain in our muscles. We are in our late 60s and would like to stay as healthy as possible. Is there anything that you know that is natural that can reduce the soreness and pain in our muscles? By the way, I should tell you that my wife and I are training for a 6-K run.” Jack and Sally J., Orlando, FL A. Dear Jack and Sally, I think we can make a big difference with the pain and soreness and get you both into really good shape for your up and coming run, just by adding a few healthy supplements to your diet. I would recommend a formula containing whole grape extract and rhodiola. This is a fantastic combination for athletes and anyone who is engaging in a heavy exercise routine or just hard, laborious work. These two herbs increase the oxygen content of blood and reduce your recovery time after exercise or work. You will feel more energetic and have less soreness. Soreness is actually caused by an increase of free radical damage in the muscles during exercise. The whole grape extract is an excellent antioxidant that prevents free radical damage. I’ve also found that people who experience pain in their muscles from exercise and everyday activities can eliminate the pain significantly by using a combination of high bioavailability curcumin, boswellia, the amino acid DLPA and nattokinase. You might look for these formulas in your health food store and begin using them several weeks before your 6-K run and continuing after for a few weeks to reduce soreness and pain. Using supplements to address free radical damage, enhance oxygen delivery to the muscles, and reduce pain and inflammation, can make a huge difference in your exercise and running capabilities. Good luck!