Guest blog by Emma Roy
We’ve all heard that exercise is a great way to stay healthy and fit. It helps to regulate our weight, build muscles, and improves our emotional well-being. We must also factor in the right amount and type of nutrients for the best results. Luckily, several different herbs are packed with the nutrients necessary to give us the physical and mental energy needed to improve our fitness and build body muscles.
Flax seeds
Flax seeds come from flax plants growing in North American regions like Alaska. While the plant bears beautiful purple flowers, the flax seeds are the predominant therapeutic aid.
It contains high levels of protein and fibre. Both are excellent sources for fitness and muscle building. Additionally, flax seeds provide ample amounts of energy. It contains a high amount of Omega-3, which has been strongly linked to improving brain health and is excellent for enhancing brain power, focus, and concentration.
You can grind them and make them into an energy and stamina blend powder. Mix it into your daily meals. Use flax seeds in your daily diet to experience better energy, focus, and beat fatigue.
Peppermint
Peppermint or Mentha Piperita arises from the native regions like Eurasia, Australia, North America, and Southern Africa. It has pink flowers and rounded leaves. The foliage is toothed along the margins and is dark green.
Peppermint boosts energy levels by influencing the brain receptors like serotonergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid ones. This results in high levels of energy, better attention span, and proper cognition. Not only that, the components like menthol and menthone boost psychological pathways and curb lethargic episodes.
You can choose from multiple options. Some modes of usage include tinctures, sprays, and capsules. Along with this, a cup of hot peppermint tea in the morning might relieve restlessness. But remember, an excess of anything is bad. Don’t forget to limit the intake. And stop intake after a maximum of eight weeks before consulting a professional on further
usage.
Ashwagandha
“Ashwagandha” is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse,” which refers to its potential ability to increase strength. The plant is a small shrub with yellow flowers native to Southeast Asia and India.
Ashwagandha is able to enhance physical performance, including strength and oxygen levels, during exercise. According to research, exercising with ashwagandha is shown to have more significant muscle strength gains than those who are excluding it from their diet.
Ashwagandha can be taken as powder and tablets with milk or water. The recommended dosage is between 250–500 milligrams (mg) per day for at least two months for best results.
Rhodiola
Rhodiola is a perennial flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It grows in harsh environments, mainly in rock crevices or bushes at high altitudes in Central and East Asia, North America, and Siberia.
The herb has a potential energy-replenishing effect, which helps to improve physical performance. The use of Rhodiola extract may increase physical performance and endurance, reduce muscle damage, and enhance antioxidant capacity, thereby reducing oxidative stress.
They come in tablets and powder form and should be consumed no more than 600 mg per day. There is no recommended method to ingest, and is best avoided before bed. Most people recommend taking it on an empty stomach, as this improves absorption. Preferably a few hours before a workout to reduce fatigue.
Turmeric
Turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin. This variable has several properties that make it
ideal for athletes. Some of them include:
● Fat soluble. Curcumin breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil.
● Anti-inflammation. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation in the body, which is
one of the factors causing obesity.
● Digestion. Regulated amounts of turmeric help increase the bile production present in the stomach. Bile is
a digestive juice that helps our metabolism break down fat.
● Antioxidant. The curcumin in turmeric acts as an antioxidant and suppresses the inflammatory condition in
fat, pancreatic, and muscle cells. Both turmeric root and powder are widely used for its health benefits. Sprinkle some powder in the warm milk or water. And do not get it on your hands. The curcumin in turmeric can dye human skin.
If you wish to use the root, then wear plastic gloves before handling it. Peel its shell and shred everything else. Mix the shredded bits into water or milk and bring to a boil.
Conclusion
Living a healthy and active life is what we are meant to be doing. We’re made to be social and active, deny the body either of the two or the means to either of the two, and it’s easy to see the negative impact that comes from it. Of course, health is a huge factor in how active of life we can live, so getting nutrients and different herbs in the mix enhances and can make up for what our bodies lack. The results are a happier, healthier, and more active lifestyle.
