With summer well on its way, many of us are starting to ramp up our training. We run more, bike more, swim more, play more soccer, baseball, basketball, golf, beach volleyball, and ultimate frisbee, and do a few extra planks, presses, and curls in the gym so we look our best. And if you play a fall or winter sport, then summer might be the time you train hard for the season to come.

While this increased activity is great for your health and wellness, it places an extra demand on your body to recover. Remember, the more exercise you do, the more recovery time your body needs.

This is true whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend warrior. Training and sports create damage inside your body that you might otherwise overlook. Failure to plan for recovery between exercise sessions can lead to an increased risk of injury or illness. It can also cause you to “hit a wall” in terms of athletic improvement.

You can't cheat recovery

What does smart recovery involve? It starts with the basics – sufficient time off from training or competing, getting enough sleep, and eating right. Adding the right combination of nutritional supplements can also be key, especially when you’re pushing yourself to excel, and especially in the summer when the heat and sweat take a lot out of you – literally.

But with over 300 Thorne supplements to peruse, where should you start? What is the best way to support your next workout? You’ve come to the right place. Here are 5 of the best supplements for exercise recovery.

1. Catalyte or 2. Daily Electrolytes

Let’s start with Catalyte. This hydration supplement is formulated with all the essential electrolytes lost in sweat – sodium, chloride, magnesium, and potassium – as well as water-soluble B vitamins and vitamin C that are lost in sweat along with the electrolytes.

Thorne also offers Daily Electrolytes, an on-the-go hydration solution shown to reduce dehydration and prevent muscle cramps so you can get the most out of your performance and recovery.* This exciting new formula is available in tasty watermelon, blood orange, or mango limeade.

Hydration and electrolyte balance are essential for all levels of exercise and athletic performance, but what’s the difference between Catalyte and Daily Electrolytes? While both replace the primary electrolytes lost in sweat, the best choice for you ultimately depends on your activity level.

Thorne’s Daily Electrolytes is great for daily use while Catalyte is best for heavy training days. In addition to electrolytes, Because Catalyte also features five B vitamins, it’s the ideal choice for anyone engaging in continuous, physically demanding activity, such as marathon or triathlon training.

3. Curcumin Phytosome

This curcumin supplement maintains a healthy inflammatory response throughout your body and provides relief from the overuse of muscles and joints, as well as post-exercise soreness.* Normally, curcumin is poorly absorbed in the bloodstream, whether it comes from food or a nutritional supplement. 

To combat this issue and help you get the most out of your supplement, we formulated Curcumin Phytosome with Meriva®, the most clinically studied curcumin formulation on the market. It is a unique curcumin extract with significantly better absorption than other curcumin extracts. In fact, a human study demonstrated 29-times greater absorption from Meriva than from ordinary curcumin.

4. Super EPA

This premier fish oil supplement supports a healthy cardiovascular system by promoting optimal blood flow and helping to maintain already normal triglyceride and cholesterol levels.* Two essential ingredients in Super EPA are essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, which help maintain healthy heart, brain, and neurological function, while supporting the normal inflammatory response in muscles and joints.*

5. Amino Complex

Get more out of your next workout with Thorne’s Amino Complex. Amino Complex features a unique blend of high-quality branch-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and essential amino acids (EAAs) in a formula supported by clinical research. 

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and therefore, our muscles. Protein is essential for muscle repair, maintenance, and you guessed it, muscle growth. So increasing the availability of amino acids gives your body more to work with when building muscle.* They're also available in stick packs – a size perfect for summer travel.

NSF Certified for Sport®

In addition to all being sport performance supplements, the products on this list are also a part of Thorne’s NSF Certified for Sport® product lineup. Because an athlete needs to know that his or her supplements are trustworthy and compliant, every batch of an NSF Certified for Sport® product is tested for compliance with label claims.

Products that bear this mark have undergone rigorous quality testing, ensuring the absence of almost 300 substances banned by major athletic organizations, including stimulants, narcotics, steroids, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, and masking agents.