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