With the start of a New Year (a new decade for that matter) comes a lot of new goals and resolutions. One of the biggest being health and fitness. I am a huge fitness lover, nothing better than that post-workout rush of endorphins. A lot of people are curious about what can help them improve in the gym or excel in a specific sport. This is something I have done a lot of research on, not only in school. My husband is a retired professional hockey player. He suffered a severe concussion while playing and to help speed up his recovery time and return to the game I did some digging. Of course, a lot of research was done on brain health but we will save that for another post.
To be honest, almost everyone can benefit from the supplements listed below. But for the case of this blog post, I am discussing the reasons why these 8 supplements specifically benefit athletes and active people. If you are an athlete, exercise enthusiast or someone planning to up their fitness game this post is for you!
1. Magnesium
Magnesium is an electrolyte that helps our muscles relax. The majority of the population is deficient in this, there are many forms of magnesium but the most bioavailable is magnesium bis-glycinate. Magnesium helps with muscle relaxation, cramping as well as sleep. Something we could all benefit from after a hard workout.
2. Turmeric
Exercise is so beneficial but by breaking down our muscle fibres we are causing an inflammatory response in our body. Turmeric reduces the risk of muscle damage, inflammation and speeds up recovery time getting you back in the gym faster! 🙂
3. L-glutamine
L-glutamine is a very important amino acid that is considered one of the best supplements for endurance athletes. Studies have shown it to promote healthy healing and is also used to provide energy for the cells in the immune system. Supplementing with l-glutamine is known for enhancing exercise performance.
4. L-Citrulline
L-citrulline has been shown to boost oxygen uptake, postpone exercise fatigue, improve recovery and optimize exercise performance.
5. Greens Powder
The benefits of a good greens powder are endless! We need those antioxidants to help with cell repair as well as it is alkalizing and takes a little pressure off of eating so many servings of vegetables!
6. Probiotics
You hear the saying you are what you eat… but actually, you are what you absorb. If your digestive system is not functioning properly this can lead to many health issues down the road including nutrient deficiency. We need to keep our gut happy and healthy before anything else! When working with clients the first thing we start with is the gut!
7. Fish oil
Omega-3 fatty acids may be especially beneficial for promoting healing, with some research suggesting that its anti-inflammatory effects may help prevent sports injuries in elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts!
8. Vitamin D
Living in Canada during those winter months vitamin D is a must. Sport-specific- there are studies showing vitamin D leads to an increase in both upper and lower limb strength in healthy individuals over a period of four weeks to six months.
Time to up your gym game! Let me know if you have seen positive results in the gym from any of these supplements?
Always be sure to work with a health practitioner before introducing new supplements.
~Jamie