Cod also belongs in the Gracie Diet.

Nothing is more predictable in a fighter’s life than occasionally feeling that ol’ muscular discomfort. But pain really can be weakness leaving your body.

Anyway, one can never be too careful in handling injuries. A few years ago, Graciemag printed a useful article to help the injured fighter get right back to training with the aid of a cleverly selected menu.

“Do you know why your muscles pulsate after a fight or an intense training session?” we asked. “Forget about myths like lactic acid or insufficient weightlifting. The discomfort is normal, and it’s part of a natural process of inflammation of the human body — a response to excessive physical exercise.” The article then went on to advise the reader not to react by going to the drug store, but to the nearest supermarket instead.

The secret of the great champions, in fact, is adopting a menu rich in foods with anti-inflammatory properties. Step one: cutting out anything that holds back your recovery.

Nowadays science agrees with the Gracie Diet in saying a healthy organism must avoid acidity as much as possible, meaning one must phase out sodas, food dyes, candy, flours, fried food, plus butter and other fats. Once these enemies are gone from your fridge, it’s time to stock up on allies.

Some of the chief natural anti-inflammatories are: algae, cod liver oil, ginger root, garlic, salmon, tuna and onions. Also useful: almonds, cod, avocado, Brazil nuts, carrots, pumpkin, grapes, black beans and soy.

Got any good recipes of your own? Share them below!

Bacalhau também faz parte da Dieta Gracie. Foto: Divulgação

Nada mais normal na vida de um lutador do que sentir ocasionalmente aquele incômodo muscular. A dor, como disse um sábio bem-humorado, pode realmente ser a fraqueza saindo do corpo.

Seja como for, com lesões não se brinca. Um tempinho atrás, a edição #196 de GRACIEMAG publicou um artigo útil para o atleta dolorido voltar aos treinos embalado, a partir de um cardápio inteligente.

“Você sabe por que seus músculos ficam latejando após um campeonato ou sessão árdua de treinos? Esqueça mitos como o ácido lático ou falta de malhação. O incômodo é normal, e faz parte de um processo natural de inflamação do corpo humano, uma resposta ao esforço físico em excesso”, começava o artigo, incentivando o praticante de Jiu-Jitsu a não ir à farmácia, mas ao supermercado mais próximo.

O segredo dos grandes campeões, de fato, é adotar um cardápio rico em alimentos com propriedades antiinflamatórias. Primeiro passo: cortar tudo que atrasa sua recuperação.

A ciência hoje concorda com a Dieta Gracie que um organismo saudável precisa ao máximo evitar a acidez – leia-se, reduzir ao máximo ou cortar refrigerantes, corantes, doces, farinhas, fritura, manteiga e outras gorduras. Eliminada ou reduzida a presença desses seus “adversários” na geladeira, basta contar com os alimentos aliados.

Alguns dos principais antiinflamatórios naturais são: alga, óleo de fígado de bacalhau, raiz de gengibre, alho, salmão, atum e cebola. Outros alimentos úteis para desinflamar: amêndoa, bacalhau, abacate, castanha-do-pará, cenoura, abóbora, uva, feijão e soja.

Curtiu? Quer receber mais dicas sobre alimentação e Jiu-Jitsu todo mês? Corra às bancas ou assine a sua revista favorita, aqui.

SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Rafael Cavalcante (left) has agreed to fight Thiago Silva at UFC 162 in July. (Photo by Esther Lin/Forza LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante will likely make his UFC debut against Thiago Silva at UFC 162, according to reports on Wednesday.

Feijao confirmed to Tatame.com that he signed the fight agreement to compete in the Octagon on July 6 in Las Vegas.

“For my part, it’s all right,” Cavalcante told the website. “I  signed the contract the next day.”

Silva (14-3, 2 N.C.) is coming back from a suspension stemming from a positive test for marijuana metabolites after his UFC on Fuel TV fight last November against Stanislav Nedkov. The suspension from competition was his second, the first coming after a his UFC 125 post-fight test showed his urine sample being inconsistent with human urine.

The combination of recent suspensions and losses has stretched Silva’s winless streak to nearly four years. The last time he successfully won a fight with no issue was in August 2009, a knockout of Keith Jardine at UFC 102.

Cavalcante (11-3, 1 N.C.) is also coming back from suspension. In his last outing, Feijao submitted Mike Kyle at “Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier” in May of last year. A positive test for the anabolic steroid, stanozolol, prompted the California State Athletic Commission, the governing body overseeing drug testing for the card, to suspend Feijao for one year from the date of the fight.

Come July, both fighters’ suspensions will be completed.

In addition to the light heavyweight bout, a middleweight bout between Mark Munoz and Tim Boetsch will be featured on the UFC 162 card, according to a report from MMAFighting.com.

Munoz (12-3) is returning from injuries to his foot and elbow. He last fought in July 2012, a loss to Chris Weidman at UFC on Fuel TV.

Boetsch (16-5) is coming off a TKO-loss to Costa Philippou at UFC 155 in December of last year. “The Barbarian” is 4-1 in his last five fights.

UFC 162 is headlined by UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva defending his title against the No. 1 contender, Weidman.

For more UFC and MMA coverage,
visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Also featured were two Brazilian second-round TKOs, from Rafael “Feijao” and Lucas Lopes, and a first-round arm triangle from Tyron Woodley over Rudy Bears, in the evening’s main event.

Strikeforce Challengers
Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas
November 20, 2009

Lucas Lopes defeated Dominic Brown by TKO in R2
Mike Chandler defeated Richard Bouphanouvong by TKO in R2
Darryl Cobb defeated Gary Tapasua by unanimous decision
Nick Nolte submitted Andy Waters via triangle in R1
Brian Davidson defeated Russell Patrick by TKO in R1
Kevin Casey submitted Chad Vance by rear-naked choke in R1
Rafael “Feijão” defeated Aaron Rosa by TKO in R2
Bobby Voelker defeated Erik Apple by TKO in R2
Kerry Vera defeated Kim “Sugar Free” Couture by TKO in R2
Tyron Woodley defeated Rudy Bears by arm triangle in R1