Our bodies respond well to new stimuli. That’s why, when it comes to fitness and exercise, it is imperative to increase the workload (stimulus) in order to see improvements. General fitness is best achieved by combining two or more modalities and a combination of strength and aerobic work. Even a properly-structured program for a single sport focus — such as training for a 10k road race — will incorporate various types of workouts including recovery, interval and long runs. Whatever the fitness goal, it is best to approach it by providing a variety of stimuli. This is also true when it comes to dietary supplements. As a professional level triathlete, I perform swim, bike and run training, plus I include core strength work. When it comes to food, I choose a well-balanced diet that favours vegetables and other whole foods. I am also sure to include good variety in all three macro-nutrient categories. Furthermore, I top off my diet with a targeted supplement regime that has the PURICA Sport Synergy Line as the foundation.
Soft tissue and cartilage healing
PURICA Recovery® was one of the products that perked my interest in PURICA many years ago. After much research and hearing countless anecdotal success stories, I was certain Recovery® would help me as a high level endurance athlete. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects combined with its ability to encourage soft tissue and cartilage healing and rebuilding make it a primary supplement for me.
Improving my exercise performance
Many athletes are familiar with the benefits of the medicinal mushroom
Cordyceps sinensis (CS). CS is one of the most widely-examined medicinal mushrooms and has shown promising results in many double-blind and placebo-controlled studies; including a 10.5% and 8.5% increase in metabolic and ventilatory thresholds, respectively, which equals an improvement in exercise performance (Chen S. Z., 2010). Studies showing those types of improvements coupled with countless anecdotal accounts from athletes and my own experience is why I continue to take PURICA Cordyceps almost daily.
Supporting my cardiovascular system to perform at its fullest potential
As a high level endurance athlete, my primary goal is to train my cardiovascular system to perform at its fullest potential. When we exercise we increase oxidative (a.k.a. free radical) stress through the production of damaging ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) molecules. ROS are unstable molecules that have potential to do damage to our bodies. Even the most sedentary person is producing ROS as the body continues its perpetual cycles of cell turnover, but as activity levels increase the body may struggle to provide enough anti-oxidants to neutralize the free radicals being produced. So it is then our job to provide our bodies with ample amounts of anti-oxidants which we do by eating healthy whole foods and taking high quality supplements. My food choices are primarily based on nutrient density and anti-oxidant potency, and this is quite simple since the healthiest foods usually contain high levels of nutrients
and anti-oxidants. And my preferred supplement for combating free radical damage to my cardiovascular system is Provascin. Provascin® is one of the broadest spectrum cardiovascular products available. The combination of ingredients offers a multi-faceted approach to protecting the entire cardiovascular system, including the heart. One of my favourite ingredients in the formula is Chaga (
Inonotus obliquus). It is a powerful medicinal mushroom that offers very impressive ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) levels and SODs (Superoxide dismutase) values. With an ORAC score of ~50 times greater than that of blueberries, Chaga is an incredible free radical scavenger. SODs serve as the front-line defense against ROS in living cells (Fukai, 2011). Furthermore, mitochondrial function is regulated by SOD (Fukai, 2011) and our overall health and performance is only as good as how healthy and efficient our mitochondria are. My reasons for using Provascin® extend beyond its fantastic day to day support, I also rely on it as a preventative measure for avoiding cardiovascular disease later in life – I have a family and I want to do all I can to maintain great health through my senior years. I am perhaps the number one fan of the PURICA Sport Synergy line and use PURICA Recovery®, Cordyceps and Provascin® on an almost daily basis.
Suggested dosing for athletic performance
I typically take 2-3 caps of Cordyceps upon rising and another 2-3 in the afternoon. Recovery is taken in 5 cap or 1 teaspoon doses 2-3 times per day, 20 minutes prior to a meal or as part of a post workout smoothie or snack. When it comes to Provascin®, I simply take it three times daily with food. In order to make the most of my supplement regime, I treat it just like training and ensure consistency, but I don’t fret if I miss a dose or two. Remember, supplementation is just like exercise and training – it is best to support your well-being with a good variety of healthy and smart choices.
Adam O’Meara has a unique perspective on natural supplements. He is not only a professional triathlete, but part of the PURICA team. The PURICA Ambassador explains why PURICA Recovery®, Provascin® and Cordyceps – our PURICA Sport Synergy Line – serve as the foundation of his regime of nutritional supplements.
BY ADAM O’MEARA
References
Chen, S. Z. (2010, May 16).
Effect of Cs-4® (Cordyceps sinensis) on Exercise Performance in Healthy Older Subjects: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Retrieved from Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110835/ Fukai, T. a.-F. (2011, September 15).
Superoxide Dismutases: Role in Redox Signaling, Vascular Function, and Diseases. Retrieved from Antioxidants & Redox Signaling:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151424/
