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Exercise is one of the most beneficial things for human health, but it must be well planned and managed in a manner that complies with the body’s limits. When we play sports, the food we eat is not always enough to give the body the energy it needs to overcome the physical stress to which we are subjecting it to and it is often beneficial to use specific invigorating supplements.
In recent years, growing interest in the use of phytotherapy to improve daily well-being has included its use alongside physical activity. Athletes have begun to turn increasingly to food supplements based on medicinal plants during both periods of training and competition.The most important benefits for those who exercise include: increased of physical force (by facilitating the ability to withstand fatigue), improved recovery times, an increased ability to concentrate, and an enhanced immune system in the face of physical stress.
These activities are performed by "adaptogens," herbs that can increase the capacity of the body to "adapt" to various conditions. The term adaptogens was coined in 1975 by a Swedish herbalist at the conclusion of research done on Rhodiola rosea, a rare plant that grows in the mountains of Scandinavia and used in the past by Vikings, who used it to improve their resistance to fatigue and low temperatures.
Also belonging in the adaptogen category are those plants with predominantly tonic functions, such as Ginseng and Eleutherococcus. Numerous studies have been conducted since the second half of the 20th century that have shown that such plants increase the resistance to damage induced by various stressful stimuli to the organs and tissues. Some evidence suggests that both ginseng and eleutherococcus possess a rebalancing effect on the neuroendocrine system, which may be altered as a result of psycho-physical stress. These herbs have direct action on cellular and muscular metabolism.
Eleutherococcus exerts its adaptogenic activity mainly by strengthening the immune system when it is weakened during intense physical activity, which can lead to a higher frequency of infections. In addition to the popularly used ginseng and eleutherococcus, there are phytotherapeutics characterized by their rebalancing of physiological functioning of the body. The best known is Schizandra, which has properties similar to those of ginseng, but also exhibits a powerful antioxidant action, useful for protecting muscles, removing lactic acid, and quenching free radicals.
Exercise leads to excessive production of free radicals in skeletal muscle, which has harmful effects on lipid membranes and cellular organelles, with a consequent negative impact on recovery time, and therefore performance, for athletes. Other plants that combat this include Billberry and Green Tea.
Natural tonic compounds optimize the processes of homeostatis and provide metabolic-nutritional support. Known to be effective are wheat germ, malt barley, and last but not least, royal jelly, which besides providing useful nutrients in the diet of an athlete, also has tonic-stimulant properties.
Ultimately phytotherapeutics are of great assistance to the athlete, and consumers should be steered towards products that are supported by scientific reasoning, and that are distributed by qualified and experienced firms who are able to ensure quality and safety in order to avoid products that are actively advertised but may be very unsafe.
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