Numerous studies have aimed to determine the best type, amount, and timing of protein intake to maximize post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates, especially concerning muscle protein synthesis. For those who are untrained, protein supplementation seems to be particularly effective for reducing muscle soreness after concentric exercises, especially when taken on a single day (supplementary Fig. S1b). The changes in isometric and isokinetic maximum voluntary contraction at 24 hours showed no significant influence from protein type, supplementation timing or duration, muscle group worked, contraction method, or the participants’ training status (supplementary Fig. S1a). The analysis includes all eligible trials, encompassing outliers as well. To uncover trials that could significantly impact the results, a sensitivity analysis was performed, removing each trial individually during the meta-analyses. As a result, various protein sources, such as whey, casein, soy, wheat, and milk, have been studied as nutritional approaches to alleviate exercise-induced muscle damage.
Protein intake, athletic performance, macronutrients, physiological index, endurance ability, muscle strength The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the first author. Additionally, future research should ensure the blinding of outcome assessment during the experiment to reduce potential bias.
As they push themselves in training and on game day, they need rapid recovery from muscle strain and tissue damage. The challenges posed by traumatic brain injuries in sports are getting more attention than ever before, especially by the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL). THC did not provide the same healing benefits. The implications for sports science are obvious — cannabis-based medicine may help athletes overcome the pain of lingering sports-related injuries.
To achieve optimal omega-3 intake, athletes can take fish oil supplements or consume foods rich in omega-3s like salmon, mackerel, and sardines; vegetarians and vegans can choose algae oil for a plant-derived source of DHA. Including dairy options like yogurt and milk in nutrition after exercise supplies athletes with crucial nutrients that foster muscle recovery, bone strength, and rehydration. The presence of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes in milk highlights its importance within an athlete’s post-exercise nutrition plan. Studies have shown that drinking milk after exercise can influence inflammation, a critical element in the recovery process. Moreover, ensuring the quality, purity, and proper use of supplements can help reduce potential risks, thereby benefiting an athlete’s performance and health. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of understanding regarding changes in electrolytes, minerals, and vitamins after exercise, especially following traumatic brain injuries, despite known advantages of replenishing electrolytes.
This article intends to deepen understanding of how the use of medicinal plants and herbs, along with plant-based diets, influences athletes. Any alternative text accompanying figures in this article has been created by Frontiers through artificial intelligence, with reasonable measures taken to ensure its accuracy, including author reviews whenever feasible. To counter the potentially detrimental effects of exercise-induced muscle damage on training adaptations, various https://www.abcmoney.co.uk/2024/11/cbd-vs-thc-examining-the-unique-roles-in-modern-medicine/ methods have been explored, such as dietary manipulation, cryotherapy, massage, stretching, compression garments, and electrostimulation. This article explores the benefits of plant-based diets for athletes and discusses the role that certain medicinal plants play in sports nutrition and energy levels. In cases where the article lacked precise data, the Get Data Graph Digitizer software was employed to extract information from graphs, including the intended outcomes. Additionally, the findings may offer new clinical recommendations for the use of CBD in the recovery phase of athletes and other possible applications.
Recent research underscores the potential of various plant-based supplements, such as beetroot juice, for enhancing athletic performance through increased production of nitric oxide, as well as the anti-inflammatory properties of berry compounds for alleviating muscle soreness (22). There has been a noticeable increase in the interest surrounding plant-based supplements in sports nutrition in recent years, driven by a growing focus on natural and holistic health approaches. Furthermore, an understanding of how nutrition interacts with exercise is crucial in creating effective strategies aimed at enhancing health outcomes for diverse groups, including athletes and older individuals (19, 20). The study of exercise nutrition is critical as it investigates how dietary habits can improve physical performance, recovery, and overall health for those involved in physical activities.
On one side, Rosenbloom et al. found that a rise in protein consumption might lead to a decrease in carbohydrate intake, resulting in fatigue and decreased performance in athletes during training (15). Increased protein consumption does not always result in heightened muscle power or growth; further evidence is required to validate its effectiveness. According to Phillips and Van Loon, consuming protein after exercise may promote adaptation by supporting glycogen replenishment, particularly when carbohydrate intake is inadequate (4). Nonetheless, protein is not the body’s primary energy source and is metabolized more slowly than carbohydrates. Many professional athletes work closely with dietitians to manage their daily nutrition in preparation for future competitions. Subgroup analysis indicates that consuming protein enhances muscle glycogen levels, and that combining protein with carbohydrates is more effective for endurance athletes than relying solely on high protein intake.
By the end of the Devonian era, most modern plant features had emerged, including roots, leaves, and secondary wood in trees like Archaeopteris. If any material is not covered under the article’s Creative Commons license and exceeds what is legally allowed, you must seek permission directly from the copyright owner. The images or third-party materials included in this article fall under its Creative Commons license unless explicitly stated otherwise in a credit line. The authors express gratitude to Steven Higgins from the Durham University Research Methods Centre for his valuable advice. These results seem unaffected by the type, timing, frequency, and amount of protein consumed; however, they may be influenced by the exercise regimen and the training status of the sample, necessitating further investigation.
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).