Goji and Athletic Performance All athletic activities are competitive by nature. This is readily observed in team sports, or in a casual one-on-one game of basketball or golf. Yet, even a solo athletic event is a competition that pits you against your own personal best. Competitive athletes are constantly searching for ways to gain an advantage over opponents. The desire for an “edge” exists in all sports, at all levels of play. Successful athletes rely on practice and hard work to increase their skill, speed, power and ability. Many also find a competitive edge by enlisting trainers or using the latest high-tech equipment. There are many healthy ways to increase your strength or improve your performance. The National Institutes of Health suggest that you keep the following tips in mind: Train safely, without using drugs Eat a healthy diet Get plenty of rest Set realistic goals and be proud of yourself when you reach them Seek out training supervision, coaching and advice from a reliable professional Avoid injuries by playing safely and using protective gear Another safe and healthy way to enhance athletic performance is by the use of certain rare plants and herbs called adaptogens. The ancient Himalayan healers were the first to identify adaptogenic plants and the practice of using them spread quickly throughout Asia. Even today, millions of Asians take adaptogens daily to prevent disease, illness and weakness. Adaptogens work by helping the body to adapt to changes and stress. Some of the benefits include: improved disease resistance, better sleep, quicker injury recovery, increased energy, and enhanced mental clarity and perception. There are no side effects or dangers associated with the use of adaptogens. Goji — The Super Adaptogen In Asia, no adaptogen is more revered than goji. The fruit is held in such high regard that it has been named a supertonic (a substance that harmonizes the structures and functions of the entire body). Although knowledge of adaptogens has been with us since antiquity, the term adaptogen itself is relatively new; Russian scientists coined it during the Soviet era of Olympic athletic dominance. Dr. Sergey Portugalov, chief advisor in nutrition and pharmacology to the Russian Olympic teams and an expert member of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA), has recently made this candid admission: “Sports have always been a major priority in Russia — and now the world will know what has helped us achieve domination. Hundreds of researchers secretly worked to improve training and nutrition, which we consider fundamental for elite athletes. For the past ten years, we have primarily focused on achieving results without using drugs. Our greatest competitive advantage came from performance supplements derived from natural plant materials (adaptogens). The nutritional support provided by these supplements helped our athletes achieve better performance, stamina, endurance, strength, recovery, immune resistance, muscle development and adaptation to changes in climate, time zones and altitude. The world has seen the results at the last four Olympic Games. But until recently our revolutionary discoveries were a closely guarded secret.” The Top 12 Athletic Benefits of Adaptogens Enhance Ability to Perform Physical Tasks Adaptogens significantly improve all parameters of exercise capacity, including maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), tolerance and fatigue threshold. Increase Energy, Endurance and Vitality In one study of 1,500 athletes, adaptogens increased stamina and endurance, improved reflexes and coordination, and expanded the amount of training that athletes could tolerate without harm. In another experiment on 140 athletes, 74 percent of the test subjects attained their best results in a three thousand meter run. Goji Supercharges Energy Goji increases exercise tolerance, stamina and endurance. It helps to eliminate fatigue, especially when you are recovering from injury or illness. Help Fight the Damaging Effects of Stress The physical and emotional demands of athletic competition can generate high levels of stress, causing the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol, a catabolic (protein-destroying) stress hormone. Adaptogens moderate the production of this muscle-wasting hormone. Goji Fights Stress As Asia's premier adaptogen, goji helps the body to adapt and to cope with stress. It provides the energy reserves to help you handle just about any difficulty. Promote Cardiovascular Health Adaptogens help to strengthen your heart and circulation, allowing you to perform with less demand on your cardiovascular resources. Goji Strengthens Cardiovascular Function Goji contains cyperone, a sesquiterpene that benefits the heart and blood pressure. Its anthocyanins help to maintain the strength and integrity of coronary arteries. Assist In Recovery From Intense Workouts Adaptogens enhance the body's replenishment of the two important muscle fuels — glycogen and creatine phosphate (CP) — both of which are depleted during exercise. This enables you to avoid burnout associated with glycogen depletion and allows you to fit more high-quality workouts into a defined period. Goji Speeds Workout Recovery Goji's unique master molecule polysaccharides help prevent so re muscles by increasing activity of the lactic acid removing enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. It also accelerates clearance of blood urea nitrogen, a toxin produced during exercise. Enhance Mental Alertness For the athlete, physical and mental readiness are equally important. Adaptogens have shown to increase mental capacity by improving reflex response, reaction time, attention span, hearing, eyesight, and motor coordination. They also improve brain circulation. Goji Increases “Youth Hormone” Goji stimulates the release by the pituitary gland of hGH, the youth hormone. The benefits of hGH are extensive and include production of lean muscle, reduction of body fat, better sleep, improved memory, accelerated healing, restored libido and a more youthful appearance. Improve Sleep Most of your body's maintenance, development and repair functions occur while you are asleep. This includes the secretion of human growth hormone (hGH). By reducing levels of stress hormones, adaptogens help you to get all the restorative benefits of a good night's rest. Slow the Aging Process Adaptogens provide a potent and diverse antioxidant effect. They also activate other antioxidant systems in the body. Goji Combats Aging In Asia, goji is known as the “longevity fruit.” Its bio-active polysaccharides and powerful antioxidants defend against premature aging, fighting free radical damage throughout the body. Promote More Efficient Oxygen Use Your muscle and brain cells require oxygen in order to produce energy. Adaptogens improve circulation and increase the capacity of cells to uptake and utilize oxygen. Protect the Liver As your body's most important organ for detoxification and tissue repair, the liver can be stressed during processing of the metabolic wastes produced by vigorous exercise. Adaptogens help to ease the strain by reducing formation of metabolic free radicals. Enhance Endocrine Function Adaptogens strengthen activity of the glands most responsible for energy, muscle growth and repair (adrenal, thymus, thyroid, pituitary and hypothalamus). Stimulate Muscle Regeneration Stimulate muscle regeneration through steroid-free anabolic action. Adaptogen studies have shown an increase in bio-indicators of new muscle protein synthesis (nitrogen balance, mRNA), thus providing a reasonable explanation for reports by adaptogen users of improved recovery and greater strength gains. Goji Protects Against Muscle Damage Goji also helps protect and preserve your hard-won gains in the gym by helping to restore and repair damaged DNA, protecting each of your body's trillions of muscle cells. Usual Dosage Level For athletic performance enhancement, research suggests a daily usage of two to five ounces of high-quality standardized goji juice, taken in divided doses before and after exercise.