Tart cherries help speed muscle recovery

(NaturalNews) A new study published in the American College of Sports Medicine journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise suggests that eating a small amount of tart cherries helps improve muscle recovery in athletes after an intense workout. The findings add to the growing body of evidence that illustrates the amazing healing power of tart cherries. Researchers from the Sports and Exercise Science Research Center at London South Bank University in the U.K. administered one-ounce servings of tart cherry juice twice daily to ten trained athletes seven days prior to an intense workout, and two days after it. Another group of athletes was given a different type of juice without tart cherry. Twenty-four hours after the workout, those drinking the tart cherry juice regained 90 percent of their muscle function, while the control group regained only 85 percent of muscle function. The powerful antioxidant compounds in cherries are believed to be the nutrient of benefit in this case, as oxidative damage to muscles is reduced in their presence. As a result, muscles are able to recover more quickly. “Cherries are what I call an ultimate super food,” said Dr. Wendy Bazilian, Ph.D., a registered dietician and author of the book The SuperFoodsRx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients , concerning the study. “Not only are they a perfect complement to a training routine since they’re available year-round in dried, frozen and juice forms, but they taste great.” A peer-reviewed study put out by Michigan State University in 2008 identified a compound in tart cherries that helps naturally relieve pain better than over-the-counter pain drugs like aspirin (http://www.naturalnews.com/023038_cherries_natural_tart.html). Tart cherries are also known to help with sleep, reduce fat, treat gout, and even fight cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/tart_cherries.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/wsw-nrs020811.php

Nutrition for Sports and Exercise

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Universal Animal Pak Sports Nutrition Supplement (Pack of 44)

Universal Animal Pak Sports Nutrition Supplement (Pack of 44) Case of 44 packets of sports nutrition supplementWith a powerful combination of vital mineral complexes, lipotropics, digestive enzymes, BCAAs, and essential fatty acidsHelps naturally enhance the body’s ability to increase anabolic hormone levels; an ideal pre-workout supplement for intense workoutsEnhances endurance and increases energyIncludes no sugar, [...]

Boost your athletic performance with this proven amino acid

(NaturalNews) Getting that extra push in the gym or out on the sports field might be as simple as supplementing with an important, nitric oxide-producing amino acid. In a recent study out of the University of Exeter (UE), researchers discovered that L-arginine, one of the 20 most common natural amino acids, helps increase exercise capacity by 20 percent and race times by up to two percent. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important substance produced by the body that regulates blood flow, fights harmful pathogens and assists in cell communication. NO also helps to improve the efficiency of food and nutrient delivery into muscle tissue, which is why high levels of it help athletes perform better. When L-arginine is processed by the body, it converts into NO, resulting in improved athletic performance. The amino acid is also a precursor to metabolites in the body like collagen, connective tissues, enzymes and hormones. “The research found that when the dietary supplement (L-arginine) was used there was a striking increase in performance by altering the use of oxygen during exercise,” explained Professor Andrew Jones from UE’s School of Sport and Health Sciences. “This is important for endurance athletes as we would expect the supplement to bring a one-to-two percent improvement in race times. While this may seem small, this is a very meaningful improvement — particularly at elite levels where small gains can be the difference between winning and losing.” When tested on a group of healthy males, L-arginine not only improved performance levels, but it helped to lower blood pressure and reduce the amount of oxygen needed during exercise. L-arginine is naturally found in protein-rich foods like nuts and meat. Chickpeas and coconuts, for instance, are rich in L-arginine. L-arginine supplements are also available, including powders that can easily be added to protein or meal-replacement smoothies. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/uoe-spa082610.php

New research: chocolate milk beats sports drinks for post-exercise muscle recovery

(NaturalNews) After an intense workout, instead of downing a commercial sports drink loaded with artificial colors and sugar, you’d be better off just having a glass of chocolate milk. That’s the conclusion of two studies presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine’s 57th Annual Meeting held in Baltimore. It turns out that chocolate milk offers a distinct recovery advantage to help repair and rebuild muscles when compared to widely hyped commercial carbohydrate sports drinks. William Lunn, Ph.D., worked on both research projects, which were conducted in the lab of University of Connecticut nutrition scientist Nancy Rodriguez, Ph.D. The first study involved eight male runners in relatively good training shape who completed two runs over the course of two week. Each run lasted 45 minutes and involved running at 65 percent of the men’s maximum levels. During this research period, the runners ate a balanced diet that had been matched to their individual needs. After each run, the research subjects drank either 16 ounces of fat-free chocolate milk or 16 ounces of a carbohydrate-only beverage (which had the same number of calories as the chocolate milk). Then, during a three-hour recovery period after each run, muscle biopsy samples were taken. The results showed the runners who drank the chocolate milk during their exercise recovery had increased markers of muscle protein repair when compared to the study participants who had been given the carbohydrate drink. The second study involved the same eight male runners who were tested 30 minutes and 60 minutes after drinking either the fat-free chocolate milk or the sports drink-type beverage. Again, chocolate milk was found to be superior to the sports drink in helping to replenish glycogen stores in muscles — and glycogen stores are a source of fuel during intense or prolonged exercise. “It’s always helpful for exercisers to learn of additional options for recovery drinks,” Dr. Lunn said in a statement to the media. “Chocolate milk can be relatively inexpensive compared to commercially available recovery drinks and is easy to make at home, making it a viable and palatable option for many people.” As NaturalNews has previously reported, researchers are finding that chocolate has a host of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and slashing the risk for heart disease (http://www.naturalnews.com/028521_chocolate_blood_pressure.html). So is it possible that chocolate could be the primary reason chocolate milk is beneficial to athletes? And, if so, could versions of vegan chocolate milk such as rice milk or almond milk also beat sports drinks in helping with post-exercise recovery? That may be a possibility. However, Dr. Lunn’s studies do not address these questions and, it is important to note, his research was funded by the National Dairy Council and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. For more information: http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=ACSM_News_Releases&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=14752 http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/pages/default.aspx

Trampolines For Fun and Exercise Purpose

In the past few months more and more people are joining their local leisure centre. Both men and women are looking to loose weight and stay trim because they are saying that this year is going to be the hottest year in the UK. To be honest they have always been saying we will get [...]

Super athlete Brendan Brazier joins NaturalNews Talk Hour to discuss fitness and health

(NaturalNews) Tune in (this week) to the NaturalNews Talk Hour featuring Brendan Brazier, professional athlete and best-selling author with an inspirational message. He teaches people how to reverse the aging process, increase energy and get fit with a plant-based diet. Join us LIVE – this Thursday night 6 pm (PST) / 9 pm (EST). FREE registration is required… simply enter your email address in the right hand column of this page and you’ll receive call-in details for the show. Brendan spent seven years as a professional Ironman triathlete and achieved this remarkable feat on a high-raw and 100% vegan diet. He is the author of The Thrive Diet and Thrive Fitness , plus creator of an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products called Vega. Brendan now spends over 200 days a year on the road, lecturing about health, nutrition and peak performance. “Brendan’s knowledge is second to none. I only hope my competition doesn’t read his book until after I’m done competing.” – Simon Whitfield, Olympic gold medalist (triathlon, Sydney 2000) Brendan’s professional athletic career began in 1998. Over the course of only a few years, his performance quickly climbed, improving each year in Ironman triathlon racing. At the 1999 Ironman Canada, he finished 21st, the following year he placed 14th, then 11th, followed up by an 8th place finish in 2002 in Ironman Utah. In 2003 and 2006 Brendan won the National 50km Ultra Marathon Championships. In 2003, Brendan was hit by a car while cycling, as a result could not race in 2004. He took advantage of the extra time on his hands and wrote a book that outlined the successful diet that had helped him improve his athletic performance at a world-class level. THRIVE and The Thrive Diet made Brendan a best-selling author in only five months. Results in 30 Days! Brendan has a program that will help you achieve long-term health and enhance performance through plant-based whole foods. Learn how to reduce stress with nutrient-dense whole foods. Alkalize your body, develop strategies to increase your endurance, improve sleep and mental health. Tune in to the next Talk Hour to learn how you can receive Brendan’s FREE program. This week’s guest: Brendan Braizer, Pro Athlete, Author and Speaker Brendan Braizer, Athlete/Author “Vegan Sports Nutrition” Thu. Apr. 29 Brendan is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on plant-based nutrition for athletes. In an online Cornell University certificate program, Brendan presents a lecture based on his best-selling books entitled: Plant-Based Diet and Elite Athleticism . It is part of a new course presented by eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. In 2006, Brendan was invited to address U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill, where he spoke of the significant social and economic benefits that could be achieved by improving personal health through better diet. The focus of his speech was to draw attention to the role that food plays in the prevention of most chronic diseases currently plaguing North Americans. In 2007, Brendan returned to Capital Hill to lobby against the Farm Bill and was named one of the most 25 Fascinating Vegetarians by VegNews magazine. Jonathan Landsman, host of the Talk Hour says, “Brendan Braizer is an amazing athlete with a powerful message. It’s easier than you think to make simple, yet effective changes in your life. This show will be packed with great tips on how to improve sleep, increase energy and maintain a healthy exercise routine. Don’t miss our “special offers” at the end of the show!” Discover the Power of Plant-Based Nutrition Whether you’re a pro athlete or simply looking to lose weight and increase your energy his easy-to-follow program can help reverse the aging process, improve your endurance and literally transform your life. FREE registration is required. Simply enter your email address in the registration form on the right column of this page and you’ll receive call-in details for the next show. Space is limited – Register Now!

Avoid Micro Organisms By Cleaning Your Swimming Pools

How Clean Is Your Town Pool?Swimming is one of the best ways of staying healthy and fit. With this opening it also becomes an irony to state that swimming pools could become a source of infections as evident from the number of minor ailments that result from entering a swimming pool. Everyone at one time [...]

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