According to recent research, adding some spice to your life can enhance your post-exercise recovery, especially if those spices are turmeric or saffron.

When high dose turmeric was given to men involved in a research trial they noticed a significant reduction in the delayed-onset muscle soreness-related leg-muscle pain experienced at 24 and 48 hours post-exercise.

Similarly, when the effects of saffron were compared to a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug and a placebo, the results displayed that 10 days of saffron supplementation resulted in reduced symptoms at the 24, 48, and especially 72 hour mark post-exercise.

Reference:

M Nicol, Lesley & Rowlands, David & Fazakerly, Ruth & Kellett, John. (2015). Curcumin supplementation likely attenuates delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). European journal of applied physiology. 115.