Enzyme therapy improved recovery
Muscles damaged by exercise can become sore and painful later, slowing training and reducing performance. In this study, 72 male athletes, age 20 to 50, took Wobenzym—a combination of bromelain, papain, pancreatin, and trypsin—or a placebo 72 hours before and 72 hours after a day of exhausting quadriceps exercises designed to damage muscle. Some of the men were less resistance-trained, others were endurance trained.
Compared to placebo, the less resistance-trained men who took the enzyme were able to maintain strength and had less pain after exercise. The endurance athletes had less inflammation, and signs of beneficial effects on metabolic and immune function.
Grape, pomegranate, green tea
In this study, 15 recreationally active people took 900 mg of a polyphenol extract from grape, pomegranate, and green tea, or a placebo, just before high- intensity anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise develops short-burst muscle strength and speed.
While there were no changes for placebo, those taking the polyphenol extract saw a 5 percent increase in total power output, maximum peak power improve by 3.7 percent, and an average power gain of 5 percent, without inducing fatigue or increasing heart rate. One hour after exercise, compared to placebo, blood pressure was significantly lower, and antioxidant activity of the natural enzyme, superoxide dismutase, had improved.
Discussing the findings, doctors said there appears to be a synergistic effect between the natural botanical extracts of polyphenols and caffeine in grape, pomegranate, and green tea that may improve blood vessel elasticity, improve performance, and aid recovery.
Reference: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine; 2017, e000191, Published Online
Natural Insights for Well Being September 2017
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