As a Pilates teacher, I’m in the studio just about every day. My teaching style is to do the work, and I hydrate like crazy, so I needed a recovery booster that wouldn’t require me to stomach a huge shake right after exercising.
I’ve been curious about tart cherry and its muscle recovery properties. It’s said to increase strength, reduce post-workout muscle soreness, and is packed with antioxidants and micronutrients. When I searched the web for options, I discovered For Wellness Recovery Gummies, which use tart cherry as a main ingredient!
I decided to try them and Gatorade’s recovery gummies for comparison. Here’s what I found:
The one that enhanced my recovery faster…For Wellness
In terms of which gummy works better, all I have is my personal experience, and I’ve noticed For Wellness’s Recovery Gummies improve my soreness and focus after workouts way more.
My juice barista used to chuckle as I’d drag myself through the door after class, but since using For Wellness gummies to assist my recovery, I’m more upright and energetic. I didn’t notice this difference with Gatorade’s gummies. Is it a placebo? Is it wishful thinking? I sure hope not, but this has been my experience so far.
Related: For Wellness gummies have a “hibiscus cherry flavor” that I can’t get enough of. Something about the combination of a slight floral hint with delicious cherry makes them taste uniquely amazing, and it’s such a treat. Gatorade’s option is straight-up tart cherry flavored, which is a little too sweet. The Gatorade gummies also have a gritty consistency that doesn’t sit well with me.
The all-natural one packed with performance ingredients...For Wellness
For Wellness’s gummies tout a simple, all-natural ingredients list. The star is Tart Cherry for muscle recovery, paired with Glucose for a rapid energy boost and Potassium and Sodium to replace electrolytes.
For Wellness’s recovery gummies contain a superpower ingredient, VitaCherry Sport. Made from whole U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries, VitaCherry Sport contains 15x more Anthocyanins than the leading tart cherry powder. Anthocyanins is the active ingredient in tart cherries that aids in muscle recovery.
For Wellness gummies also contain no common allergens; they’re gluten-free, sweetened by organic cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and vegan.
The Gatorade version avoids artificial colors, but they are flavored with juice from concentrate and, according to their nutrition label, “2% or less of natural flavor.”
Gatorade gummies are certified kosher, but they market their version as vegetarian with the disclaimer that their products “might include ingredients such as eggs, milk or sugar refined with animal bone char.” They also declare that some of their ingredients have been subject to animal testing. Nope.
The one you can buy in a store…Gatorade
I get that there’s nothing quite like strolling through the aisles, seeing what you’re drawn to, and holding products before buying them. And you could do that with Gatorade’s recovery gummies in some locations of Target, Walmart, and certain drugstores.
Personally, I’m happy to save my in-person shopping for my fruits and veggies and stick with the better product bought online. Not to mention, you save 15% when you subscribe, so a pack of 30 gummies, usually $25 will cost $18.75.
The one backed by top-performing athletes...For Wellness
It’s not just me who loves how For Wellness gummies work. This brand is backed by Phil Mickelson, who’s absolutely crushing it in the Masters at age 53. Is tart cherry juice the miracle keeping ol’ Phil at “owning it” a decade after most pro golfers retire? I’m telling myself the answer is yes.
I’ve always got For Wellness gummies in my bag
I’ve had students ask me what I use for recovery many times, and I’m so glad to finally have an answer I feel good about. A pouch of For Wellness recovery gummies is always in my gym bag alongside my water bottle, and eating my three gummies is something I look forward to after pilates. The best part? I haven’t been nearly as sore since I got my hands on these things!
