Dr. Harry’s Optimal Sports Performance and Recovery Series - Part 5
How Omega Fatty Acids and Curcumin Can Help With Performance Recovery
- By Dr. Harrison Weisinger MBBS, PhD.
My last tip, but certainly not least, is dietary supplementation.
Ok, pretty broad statement, but hear me out...
There are two supplements in particular that I want to discuss for performance recovery: Omega fatty acids and Curcumin.
Starting with omega fatty acids:
Omega fatty acids have received a lot of press over the last 3 decades, and with good reason. These essential fats play a crucial role in maintaining normal blood cholesterol levels. To obtain these results, a daily intake of 2 grams of omega fatty acids should be taken.
Omega-3 fatty acids are probably one of the most widely-used supplements in the world but the majority of these are extracted from fish (not in a friendly manner), imperfectly packaged and may be prone to oxidation (rendering them less useful).
Recently, we have seen the advent of plant-based omega fatty acids which have a decreased risk of oxidation and are obviously advantageous to vegans and vegetarians.
Now we’ll move on to Curcumin:
Curcumin is a component of the golden spice turmeric. Native to Southeast Asia and a relative of ginger, turmeric has been used as a culinary additive in India for over 4,000 years.
Vedic practitioners have also long been using it medicinally, and with good reason. Over the past years, there have been hundreds of scientific studies demonstrating the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. While the mechanism by which curcumin combats inflammation is still being worked out, what is known is that it is poorly soluble and therefore, poorly digested by the body.
Recently, however, we at Truth Origins have created a water-soluble curcumin that is able to be absorbed. I would definitely recommend that all athletes ranging from weekend warriors through to professionals introduce curcumin into their diets to support their recovery.
Well, it has been great sharing all my tips for recovery with you all.
Please remember, It’s important that all athletes, regardless of level or ability, take recovery just as seriously as they take the actual exercise itself. Especially for those of us who work– that’s most of us! If all we had to do was eat, sleep, and train, recovery would be so much easier. However, that is usually not the reality for most of us. Recovery is what gives the body a chance to adapt and improve and recovery itself can be improved by employing the tips that I have shared with you in these past 5 blogs.
If you missed one, or would like to review, you can click through the links below to read the previous 4:
PART 1
How Sleep and Rest Days Can Significantly Improve Performance Recovery
PART 2
How Using a Training Program and Post-Workout Nutrition Can Improve Performance Recovery
PART 3
How Compression and Massages can Improve Performance Recovery
PART 4
How Ice Baths and Anti-Inflammatory Agents Can Improve Performance Recovery
Dr. Harrison Weisinger (MBBS, Ph.D.)
Dr. Harry is the Medical Director for Truth Origins, and a practicing medical doctor in Australia. Throughout his working career as medical doctor, university professor, and scientist, Dr. Harry has committed his life to improving human health. Each month he reads the various journals and studies being conducted across the world’s leading universities and research hospitals to bring you the latest research surrounding the truth about plant-based medicine.
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