| It is well known that competitive cyclists | | | | in improving the endurance, performance, |
| and other groups of endurance athletes are | | | | recovery and other health parameters of |
| frequently under intense, prolonged oxidative | | | | endurance athletes. |
| stress and are subject to injury, viral | | | | |
| infections and inflammation of their muscles, | | | | As scientific studies have shown that older |
| joints and other tissues. This is especially | | | | athletes usually require more dietary |
| applicable to older athletes who do not | | | | antioxidants than their younger counterparts, |
| produce as many of their own antioxidants as | | | | most of those Dr Scott selected for the |
| their younger counterparts. Large quantities | | | | survey were over 40 years of age. He gave |
| of antioxidants are needed by endurance | | | | the cyclists one month's supply of the spice |
| athletes to counter the massive release of | | | | supplement and asked them to fill in a |
| damaging free radicals that occurs during | | | | multiple-choice questionnaire when they had |
| endurance training and events. | | | | finished the capsules. |
| | | | |
| If athletes do not have enough antioxidant | | | | Of the 20 cyclists taking part in the survey: |
| protection they become susceptible to colds, | | | | |
| flu, cramps, joint, tendon and muscle | | | | - 85% experienced a significant improvement |
| inflammation and other exercise related | | | | in their post-ride recovery rate. |
| problems. They are also predisposed to over | | | | |
| training symptoms like poor recovery after | | | | - 80% found that there was a decrease in |
| exercise, headaches, fatigue, depression, | | | | exercise-related joint, muscle, ligament and |
| moodiness, irritability, insomnia and | | | | tendon pain. |
| decreased immunity. | | | | |
| | | | - 70% experienced a significant increase in |
| Individual antioxidants like vitamin C and E | | | | their performance. |
| do not help counter oxidative stress in | | | | |
| athletes. On the contrary, taking too much | | | | - 70% noticed a reduction of over training |
| vitamin C before exercise has been shown to | | | | symptoms. |
| delay recovery and increase tissue | | | | |
| inflammation. Only a wide range of different | | | | - 65% experienced an improvement in their |
| antioxidants can counter the overwhelming | | | | training capacity. |
| onslaught of free radicals that are | | | | |
| responsible for the adverse effects | | | | - 70% noticed other non-exercise related |
| frequently associated with endurance sports. | | | | benefits such as increased energy, fewer |
| | | | viral infections, improved memory, better |
| Spices have by far the highest antioxidant | | | | concentration, reduction of joint pains etc. |
| activity of all food types including fruit | | | | |
| and vegetables (American Journal of Clinical | | | | - 55% of those who suffered with muscle |
| Nutrition, July 2006). They also contain a | | | | cramps found that they improved significantly |
| large variety of natural anti-inflammatory | | | | after taking VitaSpice. |
| compounds and other beneficial | | | | |
| phytonutrients. A balanced selection of | | | | The findings of this survey confirm the |
| different spices can provide the endurance | | | | benefits that spices can provide endurance |
| athlete with well over 100 potent antioxidant | | | | athletes. The reasons for these excellent |
| compounds as well as anti-inflammatory | | | | results are supported by a substantial body |
| compounds and other protective | | | | of scientific literature. These studies |
| phytochemicals. | | | | explain the underlying biological mechanisms |
| | | | whereby appropriate antioxidants and other |
| In May this year medical doctor, Keith Scott | | | | phytonutrients contained in spices can help |
| undertook a survey of 20 female and male | | | | to counter the adverse effects of oxidative |
| competitive cyclists who had volunteered to | | | | stress and other exercise induced problems |
| take the spice-based food supplement, | | | | like inflammation, over training and immune |
| VitaSpice. The survey was designed to assess | | | | suppression. |
| the role that a spice supplement could play | | | | |