It’s not unusual to ache for a couple days after a demanding workout, especially if you’ve taken some time off from regular training. The condition is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests 200 ml of watermelon juice enriched with 3.3 grams of citrulline and 22 mg of ellagitannins from pomegranate concentrate can help. 

Nineteen young male subjects consumed one of four beverages before a session of squats. The watermelon/citrulline/pomegranate combination helped increase peak force an average of 3% and reduced muscle soreness compared to placebo. Subjects who used the 3-ingredient stack reported no muscle soreness after 48 hours.