Sports

• Better performance
• More staying power
• Increased stamina
• Quicker recovery

Exercising or playing sport regularly improves both mental and physical health.  Exercise also aids digestion, lowers stress levels and alleviates anxiety and depression, all the while promoting a leaner body and burning fat. As a result, exercise wards off degenerative diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and dementia.

 

But, endurance and competitive sports and intensive power training requires optimal, balanced nutrition as they place heavy demands on the body. Increased turnover of red blood cells (required to transport oxygen) can lead to iron deficiencies, as well as lower levels of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, with anaemia a potential long term result. The increased generation of free radicals increases the need for antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Vitamin A (carotenoids) and selenium. Antioxidants limit cell damage, prevent inflammation and injuries, and have been shown to reduce recovery time. Increased perspiration can lead to the rapid loss of minerals such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and zinc. Optimal muscle function increases the need for quality protein replenishment, with all the essential amino acids, particularly branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine.

 

Intensive energy production requires increased vitamin input, particularly Vitamins B1 and B2, magnesium and co-enzyme Q10.  Exercise also enhances the body’s metabolism, which may lead to an accumulation of waste products and increased body acidity through the accumulation of lactic acid and carbon dioxide.

 

Spirulina contains optimal levels of bioavailable iron, which has been shown to be easily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.¹

 

It has been proven that Spirulina can successfully combat iron-deficiency anemia and increases haemoglobin levels.^2,3 Spirulina promotes red blood cell formation due to its high levels of bio-active vitamin B12⁴ and the presence of the phytochemical, phycoyanin⁵

 

Spirulina is extremely rich in antioxidants of the carotenoid family and contains potent antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phycocyanin. Together, these antioxidants have proven to prevent skeletal muscle damage caused by exercise-induced oxidative stress, simultaneously delaying exhaustion⁶.

 

Spirulina is a great source of protein, and contains considerable amounts of the branched chain amino acids (BCAA), also known as the building blocks of muscle protein, helpful in muscle protein synthesis⁷.

 

Excessive physical output, such as increased training at a competitive level, frequently lowers the body’s resistance. Spirulina has been proven to strengthen immunity in numerous ways^{8, 9, 10, 11}.

 

With its alkaline composition, Spirulina de-acidifies the body after strenuous exercise. It helps eliminate waste products, thereby encouraging rapid recovery and more efficient training.  Spirulina replenishes lost minerals due to increased perspiration. So, it is the ideal ingredient for power and recovery drinks.

 

 

Studies & Research