Curcumin for athletes – how this wonder spice can help sports people

Are you an avid marathon runner? Are you hooked to your gym? Do you love the rush of adrenaline that you get post a game of squash? Are you a golf enthusiast? If yes, you are definitely going to relate to what I am about to write.

For over a decade now I have been a regular runner, averaging about 60-70 kms a week. The feeling of utter exhilaration that I get during and post a run is unmatchable. When each muscle in my legs is pulsating, my heart is galloping and rivers of sweat are rolling down my face, I feel at the top of my game. It is the ability to push your body to achieve a feat that seems impossible in the beginning and then actually being successful at it gives immense happiness and satisfaction. At the same time though, as most sportsmen and women around the world will agree with me, once the adrenaline rush has worn down and the muscles start to gradually cool down, there is an acute feeling of inflammation that lasts roughly around 5 to 6 hours. Knees become slightly stiff and achy, thighs and calves feel tight and sore, the lower back starts to throb and the bottoms of the feet are painful too.

Such inflammations post a strenuous work out or sport is usually short lived and can be casually brushed aside. The body runs its healing processes and bounces back healthier and fitter than before. Unless if the inflammation becomes chronic. If the pain persists, it could be indicative of a disease or malfunction or a serious injury. 

Once you have decided to do something about your exercise/sports related inflammation, you have two options to choose from. The first one is the regular allopathic route in which you PPP painkillers like NSAIDs and keep going. The other route is the natural one. Here you explore the benefits of natural herbs and spices like Curcumin that have no side effects and are completely natural.

THE BENEFITS OF CURCUMIN

Curcumin has been known as the miracle spice since donkey’s years. It is a medicinal spice that was used centuries ago in ancient India to help with wound healing, Cancer treatment, diabetes management and weight management. It is high time that we too start looking at Curcumin a bit more seriously. For athletes, Curcumin can offer the following benefits:

1. Anti-inflammatory properties of Curcumin are inherently empowered to check the activity of enzymes like cyclooxygenase (COX-2), lipoxygenase (LOX) and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS). These enzymes mediate the inflammation process in the body. It also inhibits the activity of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin (IL) -1, -2, -6, -8, and -12, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP), and migration inhibitory protein. Could you believe that all of this hard work is done by the seemingly simple Curcumin? Well, believe it or not, Curcumin can help alleviate the mildest as well as the strongest of pain, swelling and inflammation. This helps athletes recover from strenuous sessions by improving joint mobility, reducing pain as well as avoid chronic illnesses stemming from inflammation.
2. The antioxidant properties of Curcumin help in curbing joint damage as an athlete ages. Over the years, as some joints and muscles are overused by athletes (knees, pelvic muscles, calf muscles etc.) they tend to start wearing causing pain and disability. Regular consumption of a curcumin supplement helps in neutralizing the free radicals in the body that cause acceleration of the aging process.
3. The most important part of bone cartilage are chrondocyte cells. These cells should be strong and function properly in order to ensure that joints are healthy. Curcumin can do exactly this by reducing the number of deaths amongst the chrondocyte cells.
4. Curcumin helps in maintaining the structure of the bone matrix by controlling the action of enzymes that promote bone degeneration.

Bagdara Farms is a wonderful initiative which aims at producing effective curcumin supplements for all kinds of diseases. To make things even better, the Curcumin used in these supplements is grown locally and is completely natural and organic. One such supplement is known as Sportyheal-5X and it can prove to be an athlete’s best friend. It improves the strength of the musculoskeletal system by repairing existing injuries quickly and preventing any more damage.

Click here for more details : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27897416