Controlling Inflammation &
Increasing Endurance
for Athletes & Workout Enthusiasts
By Christine Dreher, CCN, CCH
This article describes the importance of modulating
and controlling inflammation during and after intense exercise or
athletic training with the following natural herbs. Also, information
on how to increase your endurance during workouts with a medicinal
mushroom called Cordyceps.
Most athletes know all too well the double-edged
sword of post-exercise inflammation. Inflammation is a general immune
response to injury in the body that can be triggered by over-training.
It ultimately works to mend and strengthen muscles, making them more
adaptable to more intense levels of activity, but if post-exercise
inflammation is not modulated, it may become chronic, compromising
recovery from workouts and increasing risk for more serious over-use
injuries.
While it is not desirable to turn off inflammation
completely, helping the body mount a healthy, time-appropriate and
intensity-appropriate inflammation response is essential to building
strength and endurance. Moreover, researchers know now that a healthy
inflammation response is important for maintaining the health of
virtually every system in the body, including the cardiovascular,
immune, digestive, and central nervous system.
By incorporating a combination of natural herbs,
inflammation can be modulated, so that you get the benefits of
inflammation (stronger muscles) but not the chronic, post-exercise
inflammation.
Herbs for Inflammation
HOLY BASIL (Ocimum sanctum) Revered for
thousands of years as “Tulsi” or “The Incomparable One,”
Holy Basil was traditionally used to promote a positive stress
response and to elevate the spirit. Today, a major U.S. university
found that Holy Basil contains at least six phytonutrients that can
powerfully promote a healthy inflammation response.
TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) Modern research
conducted at dozens of U.S. universities is beginning to help explain
why turmeric has been so appreciated throughout time.
Turmeric contains a group of molecules called curcuminoids
that are synergistic with green tea and have the profound ability to
be cell protective and to promote a healthy inflammation response.
While some researchers believe curcuminoids are
responsible for turmeric’s life-supportive effects, other fat soluble
phytonutrients called turmerones also play a crucial role in making
this plant the Western world’s most important herb for cardiovascular
health and maintaining DNA integrity.
GINGER (Zingiber officinale) Revered in
ancient medical systems, ginger was referred to as "vishwabhesaj" or
the universal medicine. Modern international research shows that
ginger contains multiple fat and water soluble phytonutrients that
beneficially modulate inflammation.
Ginger also contains numerous anti-aging constituents that
benefit the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
GREEN TEA (Camellia sinensis) Clinical trials
now show that tea consumption consistently leads to a significant
increase in the antioxidant or free-radical scavenging capacity of the
blood. Proceedings of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a
major university database note that
Green Tea contains dozens of constituents in addition to its
well known molecule EGCG that can exert a beneficial effect on
promoting a healthy inflammation response.
ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis) Researchers
at major U.S. universities have subjected the culinary herb to the
rigors of modern science and discovered it possesses some of the most
effective free-radical scavenging or anti-aging constituents known in
nature. In particular, the constituent carnosol has been shown to
promote normal cell growth and a healthy inflammation response.
HU ZHANG (Polygonum cuspidatum) In
traditional healing systems, Hu zhang was used to treat a wide range
of imbalances, including those challenging the skin, immune, and
cardiovascular systems. Today one of the most exciting botanical
research projects at major U.S. universities is the focus on Hu
zhang’s most celebrated phytonutrient called resveratrol. It is the
same molecule that is believed to be responsible for the beneficial
cardiovascular and positive inflammation-modulating effects of red
wine.
BARBERRY (Berberis vulgaris) and CHINESE
GOLDTHREAD (Coptis chinensis) Chinese goldthread has been used in
Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years to “dispel heat” and
support digestive and immune functions. Native Americans also used it
to dispel heat or fever and heal digestive imbalances. What both
plants have in common is the impressive phytonutrient called berberine.
Research in Asia demonstrates that this constituent of both plants can
help promote a healthy inflammation response.
OREGANO (Origanum vulgare) Famous healers and
scholars from ancient Greece and Rome such as Hippocrates and Pliny
regarded
Oregano as a valuable healing plant for digestive and
respiratory imbalances. According to a USDA database, oregano is a
source of over 31 phytonutrients to beneficially modulate
inflammation.
BAIKAL SKULLCAP (Scutellaria baicalensis) In
traditional Chinese medicine,
Baikal Chinese Skullcap was used to counter toxicity and to
normalize temperature. Today it is known that Baikal skullcap contains
precious phytonutrients called baicalein and wogonin which can help
restore balance to a healthy inflammation response. Baikal skullcap
has an added benefit to offer, namely its well known soothing
properties excellent for promoting a good night’s rest.
What is Zyflamend?
Zyflamend is a concentrated blend of the ten therapeutic herbs
(listed above) that have been used for thousands of years by millions
of people to promote health and longevity. The herbs have been
extracted and formulated to maximize their effectiveness and to
contain active levels of dozens of key constituents that science has
recognized to promote a healthy inflammation response.
New Chapter’s Zyflamend is a unique patented herbal formula
representing a scientific breakthrough in the maintenance of a healthy
inflammation response. Both professional and amateur athletes across
the country rely on Zyflamend to support their body’s response to
inflammation, allowing them to train harder and recover faster.
Increased Endurance
  At
least 1,500 years ago, Tibetan herders observed that yaks would eat
Cordyceps and then frolic with great energy and passion. This
encouraged the herders to experience the power of Cordyceps—the
world’s most researched mushroom for increasing endurance — which has
led to its use by millions of people over the ages.
The Cordycep mushroom has made international sports
headlines. At the Chinese National Games in 1993, a team of nine
Chinese women runners shattered 9 world records, breaking the record
for the 10,000 meter run by an unprecedented 42 seconds. They gave
credit to their intense training regimen and the use of Cordyceps
(Steinkraus 1994; Pegler et al. 1994).
Hiyoshi et al., (1996) conducted a limited study on
the use of Cordyceps “on long distance runners, resulting in
significant improvement in 71% of the subjects, due, in part, to
increased respiratory activity and the metabolism of lactic acid 1.”
Recently, a marathon runner reported that he was
able to cut 25 minutes off his time in the Boston Marathon using
Cordyceps, placing him in the top ten.
New Chapter’s Cordyceps caps and
Cordyceps extract tincture are made with organic mushrooms and
are rich in Glycoproteins, Arabinoxylanes, Ergosterols, and Beta
Glucans. New Chapter’s activated, organic mushrooms Cordyceps has been
clinically shown to increase Natural Killer (NK) Cell activity by up
to 230%. For maximum benefit take with
New Chapter’s Gingerforce formulation to increase
bioavailability and activity.
Conclusion
For athletes and workout enthusiasts, it is
important to modulate inflammation to control chronic, post-exercise
inflammation. What better way than with the support of nature's herbal
gifts combined in a comprehensive, inflammation modulator formula like
Zyflamend? Cordyceps, another gift from nature, provides increased
stamina and endurance for the serious athlete in training or in
competition.
For more product information on
New Chapter’s Zyflamend, click here.
For more product information on
New Chapter’s Cordyceps, click here.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. |
