When just getting dressed, squatting down to the toilet, or picking up your bag feels worse than the workout itself, you’re probably dealing with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Working out causes little micro-tears in your muscles, and the process of those fibers rebuilding provides muscle strength and mass (i.e., those big gains).

Soreness is part of the muscle-building process, but by complementing your workout with the right diet, you can minimize the pain and get moving again the next day. Here are the best and worst foods to help your aching muscles.

Tart cherries

Research on professional athletes has shown that tart cherry juice can help improve recovery time,Howatson G, et al. (2010). Influence of tart cherry juice on indices of recovery following marathon running. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19883392 decrease muscle pain,Kuehl K, et al. (2010). Efficacy of tart cherry juice in reducing muscle pain during running: A randomized controlled trial. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-17 and reduce muscle damageConnolly DAJ, et al. (2006). Efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in preventing the symptoms of muscle damage. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2579450 compared with other beverages.

Throw a little into your post-workout smoothie or enjoy a small glass as a pre-workout snack.

Cottage cheese

With about 23 grams of mighty protein per cup, cottage cheese is the go-to post-workout snack in the fitness community for a reason. It’s one of the best sources of casein protein, the slow-digesting fuel that is fantastic for rejuvenating sore muscles as you sleep.

One study found that when athletes worked out in the evening and were given casein protein shortly before bed, they saw a spike in muscle synthesis compared to a placebo.Res P, et al. (2012). Protein ingestion before sleep improves postexercise overnight recovery. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22330017

Plus, cottage cheese contain an abundance of the unique branched-chain amino acid leucine, which has been specifically found to speed recovery from pain.Ra S-G, et al. (2013). Combined effect of branched-chain amino acids and taurine supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in high-intensity eccentric exercise. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-51

Enjoy it as a parfait with fruit and nuts, purée it into smoothies, or use it as a protein-rich base for pancakes or baked goods.

Baking spices

While we’re not giving you the green light to eat a box of Cinnabons or gingerbread cookies post-workout, a sprinkle of spice may help those muscles calm down.

In a 2013 study, trained women who were given cinnamon or ginger described having significantly less muscle soreness after working out than those in the placebo group.Mashhadi N, et al. (2013). Influence of ginger and cinnamon intake on inflammation and muscle soreness endued by exercise in Iranian female athletes. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3665015

Ceylon cinnamon in particular has lots of potential health benefits as a pantry staple. Add a generous sprinkle to your morning oats, latte, toast, or sweet potatoes for a calorie-free flavor boost.

Turmeric

Early researchNicol L, et al. (2015). Curcumin supplementation likely attenuates delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25795285/ on turmeric’s active ingredient found that a curcumin supplement helped reduce the pain associated with delayed onset muscle soreness, reduced injury, and improved recovery of muscle performance.Drobnic F, et al. (2014). Reduction of delayed onset muscle soreness by a novel curcumin delivery system (Meriva®): A randomised, placebo-controlled trial. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-11-31

Add a helping of curcumin-loaded turmeric to oatmeal, eggs, smoothies, coffee, or baked goods to get the effect (and healthier skin too.).

Coffee

Good news for coffee lovers: Research suggests that a moderate dose of caffeine (about a cup or two or coffee) about an hour before working out can significantly reduce pain afterward.Hurley C, et al. (2013). The effect of caffeine ingestion on delayed onset muscle soreness. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24164961

Here are some tips for making best cup o’ joe ever.

Salmon

Loaded with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, antioxidants, and muscle-building protein, salmon is a close-to-perfect post-workout food.

Research has linked nutrients in salmon to increased muscle protein synthesis, the process that repairs and grows muscles.Paulussen K, et al. (2020). Effects of salmon ingestion on post-exercise muscle protein synthesis: exploration of whole protein foods versus isolated nutrients. DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa049_043

Throw a can on a green salad, grill up some fillets, or mix salmon with potatoes for salmon cakes.

Watermelon

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as biting into a cold, juicy piece of watermelon after a serious sweat session. But research on watermelon’s key amino acid, l-citrulline, suggests it might also soothe those sore muscles.

One study found that giving athletes watermelon juice — which contains the rind, the highest source of l-citrulline — after a workout helped reduce recovery heart rate and muscle soreness after 24 hours.Tarazona-Díaz, M, et al. (2013). Watermelon juice: Potential functional drink for sore muscle relief in athletes. DOI: 10.1021/jf400964r

The natural sugars will also help drive protein into your muscles and replenish low glycogen stores, and the high water content is essential in preventing muscle-cramping dehydration.Cleary M, et al. (2006). Dehydration and symptoms of delayed-onset muscle soreness in normothermic men. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1421497

Throw a little watermelon into your smoothie (include some of the rind for a boost of l-citrulline!Rimando AM, et al. (2005). Determination of citrulline in watermelon rind. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16007998/), add it to a crunchy salad, or infuse it in some water for refreshing post-workout hydration.

Eggs

Protein is the essential building block of muscles, so it’s not surprising that research has found that consuming a protein source, like eggs, after an intensive endurance exercise may help reduce the risk of DOMS.Jäger R, et al. (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: Protein and exercise. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8

Like cottage cheese, eggs are a source of leucine, which is linked to muscle recovery.Ra S-G, et al. (2013). Combined effect of branched-chain amino acids and taurine supplementation on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in high-intensity eccentric exercise. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-51 Since each 80-calorie egg packs an impressive 6 grams of protein, we suggest prepping a big batch of hard-boiled eggs at the start of the week for easy post-workout snacks.

Bananas

Bananas are an easy-to-digest source of complex carbs that can help spike your insulin just enough to drive protein into your muscle and stimulate muscle rebuilding and growth.

They’re also a great source of the electrolyte potassium, which research suggests may help reduce muscle soreness post-gym.Nieman D, et al. (2018). Metabolic recovery from heavy exertion following banana compared to sugar beverage or water only ingestion: A randomized, crossover trial. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194843 Pop one into a smoothie, slice it onto oats, or simply enjoy it straight out of the peel for a quick snack.

Now that we’ve got the good stuff down, let’s review what we should probably avoid. Neither of these will likely be a surprise.

Sugar

Since muscle pain is considered a form of inflammation, it makes sense to cut back on inflammatory foods on days you work out — most notably refined carbs like sugar.

A 2017 study of more than 12,000 people found that those who consumed more added sugar (such as sugar found in soda or used in coffee or tea) had higher levels of inflammatory markers than people who consumed less sugar.O’Connor L, et al. (2017). Intakes and sources of dietary sugars and their association with metabolic and inflammatory markers. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2017.05.030

The good news is that natural forms of sugar in foods like fruits, milk, whole grains, and veggies don’t have the same effect.Joseph S, et al. (2016). Fruit polyphenols: A review of anti-inflammatory effects in humans. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25616409 So get your sweetness from whole foods when you can.

Alcohol

For obvious reasons, it might not be a great idea to plan a workout after too many tequila shots — but even a little booze can cause post-workout pain or up your risk of injury.

Alcohol dehydrates your cells, resulting in soreness, cramps, and potential strains. Research has also shown that it can interfere with blood flow and muscle recovery from injuries.Barnes M. (2014). Alcohol: Impact on sports performance and recovery in male athletes. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-014-0192-8

If you’re busy building lean muscle and getting those gains, don’t forget to stock up on whole foods with the right nutrition to fuel your body and soothe aching muscles. Fruits, veggies, and proteins are solid choices for pre- and post-workout noshing.