Cycling Performance Boosted by Spices
Posted on June 16, 2011 by Dave W
Large quantities of antioxidants are needed by endurance athletes to counter the massive release of damaging free radicals that occurs during endurance training and events.
If athletes do not have sufficient antioxidant protection they become susceptible to colds, flu, cramps, joint, tendon and muscle inflammation and other exercise related problems. They are also predisposed to over training symptoms like poor recovery after exercise, headaches, fatigue, depression, moodiness, irritability, insomnia and decreased immunity.
Individual antioxidants like vitamin C and E do not help counter oxidative stress in athletes. On the contrary, taking too much vitamin C before exercise has been shown to delay recovery and increase tissue inflammation.
Only a wide range of different antioxidants can counter the overwhelming onslaught of free radicals that are responsible for the adverse effects frequently associated with endurance sports.
Spices have by far the highest antioxidant activity of all food types including fruit and vegetables (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2006). They also contain a large variety of natural anti-inflammatory compounds and other beneficial phytonutrients.
A balanced selection of different spices can provide the endurance athlete with well over 100 potent antioxidant compounds as well as anti-inflammatory compounds and other protective phytochemicals.
In May this year medical doctor, Keith Scott undertook a survey of 20 female and male competitive cyclists who had volunteered to take the spice-based food supplement, VitaSpice.
The survey was designed to assess the role that a spice supplement could play in improving the endurance, performance, recovery and other health parameters of endurance athletes.
As scientific studies have shown that older athletes usually require more dietary antioxidants than their younger counterparts, most of those Dr Scott selected for the survey were over 40 years of age. He gave the cyclists one month’s supply of the spice supplement and asked them to fill in a multiple-choice questionnaire when they had finished the capsules.
Of the 20 cyclists taking part in the survey:
* 85% experienced a significant improvement in their post-ride recovery rate.
* 80% found that there was a decrease in exercise-related joint, muscle, ligament and tendon pain.
* 70% experienced a significant increase in their performance.
* 70% noticed a reduction of over training symptoms.
* 65% experienced an improvement in their training capacity.
* 70% noticed other non-exercise related benefits such as increased energy, fewer viral infections, improved memory, better concentration, reduction of joint pains etc.
* 55% of those who suffered with muscle cramps found that they improved significantly after taking VitaSpice.
The findings of this survey confirm the benefits that spices can provide endurance athletes. The reasons for these excellent results are supported by a substantial body of scientific literature.
These studies explain the underlying biological mechanisms whereby appropriate antioxidants and other phytonutrients contained in spices can help to counter the adverse effects of oxidative stress and other exercise induced problems like inflammation, over training and immune suppression.
——
Keith Scott is a medical doctor with a special interest in the healing properties of spices and phytonutrients. He has written several books including “Medicinal Seasonings, The Healing Power of Spices”. To download a free pdf copy of his book, “Medicinal Seasonings” and read more about the health benefits of spices go to: => http://www.medspice.com
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/cycling-performance-boosted-by-spices-968267.html
Cycle Training?
Hi All,
In three months I am entering my first significant time trial event. My training at the moment is
a daily commute of 20miles a day and doing basic leg excercises in the gym three times a week.
I was hoping some of you yahooers may have some tips on gym/outdoor activities to help improve my fitness.
The time trial will be over 118 miles.
ok
a lot of you are questioning the length of the ride. It’s simply a fact and I am asking only for your responses on ways to approach the training. The answers I have received are good but 118 miles is the distance and I want to do it in araound 6-7 hours.
Answer
A 118 mile time trial?? That seems really, really far for a time trial. You are definitely going to have to bump up your daily miles. A 20 mile commute is fine, but you need quality saddle time. The best way to compete in cycling is to train on the bike. The only time I am ever hit the gym is during “off season”.
This plan helped me race my first 100+ miles race. I’ve adapted it a little to suit your 3 month goal, but you can adjust it accordingly.
Every Monday: Easy Pace
Tuesday: Brisk (your Time Trial pace)
Wednesday: Rest Day
Thursday: Hills / Intervals
Friday Easy Pace
Saturday: Long Distance
Sunday: Rest / Easy Recovery Ride (5-15 miles easy pace)
Week 1: 22 miles daily / 65 weekend ride
Week 2: 24 miles daily / 70 weekend ride
Week 3: 26 / 75
Week 4: 28 / 80
Week 5: 30/60
Week 6: 35/65
Week 7: 40/70
Week 8: 45/75
Week 9: 50/80
Week 10: 40/85
Week 11: 30/90
Week 12: 20 miles during the first half of the week, and only 10 the two days leading up to the race
If you flip Sat/Sun for your long distance ride, make sure you always have your Rest Day or your easy Recovery Ride on the day immediately following! Recovery is so, so important when training for endurance events.
Good luck!
Related Posts -
Cycling Training Tips Important Things to Know Road cycling training is one form of exercise to slim down. A lot of people nowadays are into this type of exercise since it can "pump up" your metabolism and you heart as well. This type of training will also allow you to enter into cycling competitions especially if you...... -
Spinning May Be The Perfect Workout For You Spinning is a stationary indoor cycling workout bringing athletic training programmes to people of all fitness levels. Spinning incorporates cycling, choreography and motivational coaching techniques to give you a completely safe, aerobic, adrenaline ride. Spinning is primarily an anaerobic exercise, pulling energy from your reserves and building up your muscular...... -
Spin it Some call it tormenting, while others call it exhilarating. There no denying, however, the great popularity of spinning or indoor cycling classes. These classes differ from the usual boring stationary cycling when the instructor takes participants on a virtual outdoor road race with hills, valleys, flat roads and finish...... -
What is HITT cardio training Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/http://www.articlealley.com/what-is-hitt-cardio-training-564174.html how many miles a week should i train for competition and increase speed in cycling? with average speeds of 31km/h and ride 5 miles a day i feel i need much more on that.....what is the best training program... Answer5 mile rides are very, very short rides....... -
How to Understand the Domain Name System How to understand the Domain Name System By Clare Lawrence 13th August 2004 Ever wonder why DNS systems came into existence? Efficiency. Every computer has a distinct IP address, and the Internet needed an elite method for obtaining these addresses and for managing the system as a whole. Enter ICANN.......
Related Websites -
Five Tips for Cycling to Work [/caption]Taking your bicycle to work is simply full of benefits: exercise, saving on gas, fresh air, and an energy boost. With that said, there's no doubt that there are some potentially negative consequences for taking your bike to work, sweat foremost among them. So how can you cycle to work...... -
Preparing for Your First Race Gearing up for your first 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or Full Marathon? Congratulations! With lots of great races scheduled nationwide, I went directly to the pros for tips and guidelines on how to stay focused, build stamina and meet (or exceed!) your goals. And since running requires both physical and...... -
The Low Body Fat Secret Of Bodybuilders And Fitness Models [/caption] By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS The secret to getting super lean – I’m talking about being RIPPED, not just “average body fat” – is all about mastering the art of "peaking." Most people do not have a clue about what it takes to reach the type of low body...... -
The Growing Popularity of the Half Ironman Triathlon The Ironman is a competition which is reserved for only the most in shape individuals. People aspire to be able to compete the competition, but do not believe they have the level of fitness required to complete the challenge. This is why the half Ironman triathlon has been growing in...... -
Former Fat Guy Rob Cooper On Fitness I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rob Cooper, the Former Fat Guy, about his natural weight loss experience. We covered his fitness, nutrition, and mental health. He is an inspiration to all, he once weighed nearly 500 lbs. 500 POUNDS! It took him only two and half years......
Discussion: No Comments
Leave a Reply
