Numerous studies focusing on protein nutrition (especially in connection with muscle protein synthesis (MPS)), have aimed to determine the ideal type, quantity, and timing of protein intake to optimally enhance MPS rates after exercise. For untrained individuals, protein supplementation seems to be particularly effective in reducing muscle soreness after concentric exercises and is most beneficial with just one day of supplementation , supplementary Fig. S1b,. The type of protein — duration or timing of supplementation, the muscle group targeted, contraction type, and the training level of participants did not significantly affect the changes in isometric and isokinetic maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 24 hours (supplementary Fig. S1a). All qualifying trials (including those that are outliers), have been featured and incorporated into the analysis. A sensitivity analysis was performed by removing each trial individually to pinpoint potentially impactful studies during the meta-analyses. Consequently, various protein sources, such as whey, casein, soy, wheat, and milk, have been examined as nutritional approaches to minimize exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD).
The contributions regarding protein intake (athletic performance), macronutrients, physiological indices, endurance, and muscle strength are included in the article and supplementary materials, with further inquiries directed to the primary author. Moreover, future studies should prioritize blinding outcome assessments during experiments to mitigate possible biases.
During training and competitions — athletes require swift recovery from muscle strain and tissue injury as they challenge https://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/business/automation-cannabis-cultivation/ themselves. Traumatic brain injuries in sports are receiving unprecedented attention, particularly from the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL). The healing effects of THC were not comparable. The significance for sports science is clear: cannabis-based medicine may assist athletes in managing the pain associated with persistent sports injuries.
For optimal intake — athletes can obtain omega-3s through fish oil supplements or by consuming omega-3-rich foods, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, while vegetarians and vegans can opt for algae oil as a plant-based source of DHA. Incorporating dairy products such as milk and yogurt into post-exercise nutrition provides athletes with essential nutrients that promote muscle repair, bone health, and rehydration. The combination of proteins (vitamins), minerals, and electrolytes in milk underscores its value as a component of an athlete’s post-exercise nutrition strategy. Research has also demonstrated that milk consumption post-exercise can modulate inflammation, a key factor in recovery. Additionally, attention to supplements’ quality, purity, and appropriate usage can mitigate potential drawbacks, ensuring they positively contribute to an athlete’s health and performance. However, despite the established benefits of electrolyte replenishment, knowledge regarding electrolyte, mineral, and vitamin alterations post-exercise, particularly following traumatic brain injury, remains limited.
This article aims to provide deep of knowledge of the influence of application of medicinal plants and herbs, as well as plant-based diets on athletes. Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy — including review by the authors wherever possible. EIMD potentially hinders training adaptations and hence several strategies have been investigated to mitigate EIMD including cryotherapy (massage), stretching, compression garments, electrostimulation 25, 26, and dietary manipulation. This article delves into the advantages of plant-based diets for athletes and sheds light on the impact of selected medicinal plants in sports nutrition and energy. When the article did not provide accurate data, the Get Data Graph Digitizer software extracted data from the graph, including the desired outcomes. Furthermore, resulting evidence could provide new clinical guidance for prescribing CBD during the athlete recovery process and other potential applications.
Current research highlights the potential benefits of various plant-based additives, such as beetroot juice for improving exercise performance through enhanced nitric oxide production and anti-inflammatory compounds from berries for reducing muscle soreness (22). The use of plant-based additives in sports nutrition has gained significant attention in recent years, driven by a growing interest in natural and holistic approaches to health and wellness. Furthermore, understanding the interplay between nutrition and exercise is essential for developing effective interventions aimed at improving health outcomes across various populations, including athletes and older adults , 19, 20,. Exercise nutrition is a vital area of study that focuses on the role of dietary intake in optimizing physical performance, recovery, and overall health in individuals engaged in physical activities.
On the one hand, Rosenbloom et al. determined that increasing protein intake may decrease carbohydrate intake, causing athletes to feel exhausted and perform poorly during training (15). Increased protein intake does not necessarily lead to greater power or muscle gain; more data is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness. Phillips and Van Loon concluded that post-exercise protein consumption may enhance adaptation by aiding in glycogen restoration, but this effect seems to occur primarily when carbohydrate intake is insufficient (4). However, protein is not the body’s preferred fuel source and is metabolized more slowly for energy than carbohydrates CHO. Professional athletes often manage their daily dietary intake under the guidance of dietitians to prepare for upcoming competitions. Subgroup analysis suggests that protein intake improves muscle glycogen levels and that the co-ingestion of protein with CHO is more effective for endurance athletes than high protein intake alone.
By the end of the Devonian (most of the basic features of plants today were present), including roots, leaves and secondary wood in trees such as Archaeopteris. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license — unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. The authors would like to thank Steven Higgins from the Durham University Research Methods Centre for his advice. These outcomes are seemingly unaffected by the type, timing, frequency, and dose of ingested protein, though may be affected by the exercise protocol and sample training status, with further examination required.
Only with such robust evidence can targeted recommendations for plant-based supplement use in sports nutrition be responsibly developed. Resolving these gaps will refine evidence-based guidelines, balancing the sustainability, allergen-friendliness, and cultural alignment of plant-based supplements with the rigor demanded by sports nutrition practice. Unlike synthetic supplements, plant extracts lack global bioactive standardization—olive leaf extracts, for example, range from 1–20% oleuropein (45), and 38% of commercial extracts fail labeled content claims (13). This suggests that interindividual differences in gut microbiota composition may explain variability in plant supplement efficacy, underscoring the need to integrate microbial profiling into future sports nutrition research. For example (curcumin is converted by Bacteroides fragilis into tetrahydrocurcumin), a metabolite with 5–10 times higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity than the parent compound (10). Polyphenols—abundant in berries, green tea, and curcumin—are poorly absorbed in the small intestine, with ~90% reaching the colon to be metabolized by gut bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Akkermansia) (68).
