recoverite Each month I’ll be spotlighting a product that I rely on for my training and racing … and sometimes even life in general.

I’m kicking this series off with my favorite product: Hammer Nutrition’s Recoverite.

Recoverite helps restore your muscle glycogen, rebuild muscle tissue and reduce soreness. Athletic performance improvement depends on a program of exercise to stimulate muscular and cardiovascular adaptation followed by a recovery period in which the body rebuilds itself slightly more fit than before.

The real gain of exercise occurs during recovery, but only in the presence of adequate rest and optimal nutritional support. Carbohydrate and protein replenishment, as soon as possible upon completion of your workout, helps you to get the very most out of every minute you’ve put into training. That’s where Recoverite comes in, providing unsurpassed nutritional support to ensure you obtain the maximum value from your workouts and complete recovery after each training session and race.

Now, this theory of protein after a workout isn’t new. Weightlifters and others have long relied on this technique to build muscle, hence all those processed shakes and bars on the market touting 20+ grams of protein. More recently it has become a staple of endurance sports, too. Sports nutritionist Matt Fitzgerald writes about protein and the endurance athlete in this article, including that those athletes should aim for about .5 gram to .8 gram of protein per pound of body weight daily, depending on the training load. (That’s about 53-84 grams for me; yesterday I got 93 grams.)

Many people swear by chocolate milk for recovery after a run, and while it’s better than nothing, it’s not the best — check out the chart above.

Recoverite supplies carbohydrates and protein in an ideal 3:1 ratio for superior glycogen synthesis and muscle tissue rebuilding, the two main components of recovery. For carbohydrates Recoverite contains only maltodextrin, a complex carbohydrate with a high glycemic index, to ensure rapid metabolism. Unlike most recovery products that contain simple sugars, maltodextrin provides a large volume of easily digested and rapidly assimilated carbohydrate, vital for preventing stomach distress and promoting full, efficient restoration of muscle glycogen.

Recoverite contains only whey protein isolate (grass fed, hormone free, and antibiotic free), which is virtually fat—and lactose—free, and yields the highest percentage of protein. For rebuilding lean muscle tissue and immune system support, whey protein isolate has no peer; it’s simply the purest form of whey protein available. In addition, each serving of Recoverite also contains a potent, recovery-boosting three grams of l-glutamine.

Recoverite also contains a full-spectrum electrolyte profile to replenish depleted essential minerals and is completely free of any artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.

Last year I switched from using Recoverite after just long runs and speed sessions to using it after any run longer than about 30 minutes, and including shorter runs if I paired that with strength training. I recovered much faster and had considerably fewer “sluggish” days where my legs felt flat.

Recoverite comes in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and orange-vanilla. I’m a chocolate girl whereas my husband prefers the orange-vanilla. I recommend ordering a few single-serve packets of different flavors.

If you want to recover right today so you can hammer tomorrow, try Recoverite. Use me as your referral (customer number 254423) and save 15% on your first order!

This year, I became a Hammer Nutrition Sponsored Athlete, which I pursued because of my love for their products. Disclaimer: As a sponsored athlete, I receive a discount on Hammer Nutrition products and referral credit for new customers. All Hammer customers are eligible for referral credits, so if you love their products, check out this info!