Superfoods for Optimal Performance
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You don’t need to be a world class athlete to want to be able to perform at your best, we all want to achieve the best that we can. For a long time we’ve heard the saying ‘You are what you eat’ and eating a balanced diet full of fruit and vegetables is vital to achieving this.
Protein has always been considered a key factor in achieving top athletic performance and traditionally meat and dairy products have been considered the best source of this. However, the truth about this is beginning to emerge. Films like ‘Game changers‘ from Netflix and top athletes such as, Venus Williams and Carl Lewis enthusing about vegan diets are altering the way we think.
In fact, all protein originates from plants, animals are just the middlemen. The protein in a steak comes from the plants that the cows ate. When you think about it, some of the strongest animals on the planet such as Gorillas and Elephants only eat plants
Protein is made up of chains of molecules known as amino acids
There are 20 amino acids found in nature that your body can use to build protein. Out of these 20 amino acids, 9 are considered essential, which means that your body cannot produce them itself, so you need to get them from your diet. Plants contain all nine essential amino acids — however, as with all things you need to ensure that your diet is varied to get all of the amino acids.
Adding plant-based superfoods to your diet can be a big contributor to achieving top performance. For example, our organically produced outdoor grown Wheatgrass Juice contains 20 amino acids, high levels of chlorophyll and is rich in vitamins A, B5, B12 and E to boost your energy levels and performance. And British athletes used Beetroot juice as a natural performance enhancer during their training for the 2012 Olympic Games!
So what exactly do superfood juices do for us to help performance?
1. Pre work out benefits
Research has shown that consuming wheatgrass juice before exercising improves the body’s blood oxygen levels. Additionally, researchers believe that wheatgrass might improve blood oxygen in the recovery stages of exercising as well. This means that you get an extra boost when working out.
The concentrated shot of wheatgrass juice gives the body energy and speeds up the detox process. Specifically, it is rich in vitamins A, C, E, K and the eight B vitamins, as well as amino acids and chlorophyll. The vitamins and minerals provide energy, while the amino acids (which are used by the body to build proteins), and the chlorophyll are used to prevent injury and to quickly heal the body after injury.
2. Top up on nutrients
Wheatgrass Juice contains high levels of Vitamins A, B5, B12 & E which help which gives a great nutritional boost when exercising.
One shot of our organic outdoor grown wheatgrass juice contains more than enough vitamin B12 for your recommended daily needs.
This is fantastic as B12 is essential for keeping the body's nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA. Red blood cells carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from your body, so athletes need to consume a generous amount of Vitamin B12.
The Vitamin A and beta carotene in Wheatgrass juice, provides antioxidants, and maintains cognitive function and keep lungs healthy.
3. Improves Circulation
When you exercise your heart rate increases and blood flows quicker, Wheatgrass juice nourishes your cells and organs to keep them strong and prevent damage. It also helps to improve circulation.
A 2004 study reports that wheatgrass juice reduces the blod transfusion requirement in patients with thalassemia major, a genetic blod disease. In fact, the effect of wheatgrass juice leads to a decrease in the requirement of packed red cells by 25 percent or more.
Also, a 2011 study published in the International Journal of Universal Pharmacy and Life Sciences reports that wheatgrass can be beneficial in increasing platelet count.
4. Boosts energy
Rich in Vitamins A, B5, B12 and E it helps to increase vitality and provides a long-lasting energy boost. The extremely high levels of chlorophyll in wheatgrass juice can help the body build red blood cells, which carry oxygen to different organs and tissues in the body, invigorating them along the way.
Packed full of nutrients and vitamins wheatgrass juice provides your body with all the nourishment it needs, it's simple if your body is nourished it will flourish!
5. Faster Healing time
Wheatgrass juice helps you heal faster from injuries and illnesses. The nutrients in wheatgrass not only protect the immune system, but they also help you recover from colds, the flu, sports injuries, surgery, or any ailment.
When the body is injured it requires a rush of amino acids to repair what has been damaged, as Wheatgrass Juice has high quantities of these it can fast track the healing process.
Wheatgrass also has Vitamin K, which helps blood clotting, and Vitamin E, which offers antioxidant properties and may prevent free radicals from damaging cells during endurance exercise.
Beetroot juice can also help support a faster recovery. A 2016 study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology gave active men beet juice or a placebo for 48 hours after high intensity activity. Inflammation markers and muscle recovery were measured for 72 hours after the activity. Participants who drank the beet juice were found to less muscle soreness, indicating a faster post-workout recovery.
6. Reduces inflammation
Inflammation is our bodies’ natural immune response to injury, foreign invaders, or even exercise. Straining and ankle, pulling a muscle or bruising can all impact physical performance.
Studies have shown that wheatgrass juice can reduce inflammation. Wheatgrass contains antioxidants and antioxidants have been shown to fight chronic inflammation, which happens when the immune system reacts to unwanted substances, often mistakenly.
Wheatgrass Juice is extremely rich in chlorophyll which due to its antioxidant and nutritional properties protects cells from oxidative damage and inflammation.
This means that wheatgrass could help speed up recovery after injury and improve performance.
7. Improves Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Cardio respiratory fitness is essential for athletes Nitric oxide from beetroot juice helps this process. It is shown to increase cardiorespiratory performance and improve muscle function
Nitric oxide works by stimulating body functions affecting oxygen utilisation. It opens up your blood vessels (vasodilation) increasing blood flow and feeding more oxygen to working muscles.
Research shows that nitric oxide can increase blood flow and improve lung function.
We make it really easy for you. Our organically produced, outdoor grown wheatgrass juice supports optimum energy levels and helps reduce tiredness and fatigue. You’ll notice an immediate and lasting energy boost.
We offer organic Beetroot juice in two forms, pure and blended with Maqui juice all to help you achieve your optimal performance levels.
To orders yours visit our shop here today.