The tip: Drink tart cherry juice in the days leading up to a tough workout, rather than using it post-workout (though the antioxidants can still be beneficial in speeding up muscle recovery).

Why it works: A study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports had 20 recreational marathon runners consume cherry juice or a placebo for five days before, the day of and 48 hours after a marathon run. They found that the runners who consumed the cherry juice recovered faster and had less inflammation than those who consumed the placebo. "Fruit juice has a lot of natural fructose which can help restore your glucose levels in your muscles and in your bloodstream so that you have fuel to burn for your next activity," explains Weintraub.

The tip: Try a "contrast bath." Post-workout, take a hot shower for three to five minutes, then switch to water that's as cold as you can possibly stand for 30-60 seconds. Repeat the process three to five times, says Weintraub.

Why it works: "The first time you douse yourself in the cold you will probably curse my name for ever mentioning it. By the second to third time, it will feel absolutely incredible and you'll get out of the shower feeling like jelly and absolutely refreshed," Weintraub says. It works like this: the heat expands your tissues and pulls toxins out of the cells in your blood vessels, while the cold contracts your tissues, promotes blood flow and flushes the toxins out of your body. " Switching back and forth between the two creates a pumping effect, amplifying your body's ability to flush out toxins and restore," he further explains.

The tip: Stay hydrated throughout the day. Weintraub says that drinking small amounts throughout the day is better than chugging before and after to try and make your water quota. That's because your body is designed to store things it feels are scarce, and process things if they show up regularly. "You want the latter," he says. Rowley recommends drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day.

Why it works: "After a workout, it's important to hydrate and drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from your body and prevent dehydration which can increase muscle soreness," says Rowley.

"Rehydration is key, however, water alone can simply pass through directly to the kidneys without being used for muscle recovery," adds Weintraub. He recommends adding lemon juice to your water, or choosing coconut water, to help your body absorb and utilize the water to help your muscles recover.