THE INGREDIENTS IN DETAIL…

BEETROOT

Blood and Muscle Support…

Beetroot for athletes may just be one of the most beneficial in aids for high level performance. It has amazing health-boosting properties high in iron, potassium, vitamin C, and folate. The most important benefit that beetroot may provide for athletes, however, is its super-high nitrate content.

It is absolutely packed with nitrates which our bodies convert to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide acts as a signalling molecule for multiple processes in the body and can have a number of effects on body including the dilation of blood vessels, regulation of muscle contraction and glucose uptake, and the regulation of cellular respiration.

These effects increase blood flow capacity and also lower the amount of oxygen required by our hard working muscles during exercise. Oxygen is used more efficiently throughout the body, allowing athletes to exercise at a greater intensity – all for the same level of effort.

Another study showed that those who drank beetroot juice prior to exercise were able to exercise for up to 16% longer.

Other benefits from beetroot include its anti-cancer properties from its betaine content, digestive aid from its fibre content, and mind-relaxing effects from a compound called tryptophan, which is also found in chocolate.

CHLORELLA

This Blue Green Algae appears to grow only in particular places, and we use what we believe to be the purest and best form of it: wild-harvested from Klamath Lake in the forested mountains of Oregon, a pristine ecological paradise environment where numerous springs are charged with water filtered through miles of nutrient-rich volcanic soils on the flanks of the Cascade mountains.

The lake is surrounded by the mineral rich volcanic Cascade Mountain Range where rain, snow and underground springs for 10,000 years have washed precious minerals and nutrients into this pristine lake.

Athletes want and need to be at the top of their game all the time. AFA may help to:

• Increase endurance and strength in athletic performance
• Combat lowered resistance due to over-training by strengthening the immune system
• Improve performance times in sports that require any combination of strength, endurance or flexibility
• Increase the ability of seasoned and senior athletes to make a “comeback”
• Reduce fatigue, soreness and recovery time after performance
• Shorten recovery time after injury
• Increase mental focus during athletic performance
• Lower resting heart rate

Immune Support

It is also believed to significantly enhance immune system activity and shorten recuperation time after athletic training and competing because it is believed to have both cleansing and rebuilding properties. It is also thought to speed the uptake of essential nutriants as well as remove waste metabolites generated by athletic activity.

Multivitamin, Trace Mineral Support

It is an excellent source of energy-producing B vitamins including appreciable amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12. The B vitamin suite fights stress by helping to more efficiently convert polysaccharides and other carbohydrates into glucose for immediately available energy, endurance, and stamina. It also is an important source of vitamin C, contains omega-3 fatty acids including the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexonoic acid (DHA), and contains the phospholipid choline. This makes AFA a brain and nervous system-supporting food.

Athletes and Recovery

It contains an extraordinary concentration of the blue-pigment phycocyanin which helps preload the immune system by stimulating the production of more stem cells from the bone marrow. Stem cells are the basic form of all cells and can be transformed into any cell (including T-cells, NK cells, macrophages and other immune system cell artillery).

It is considered a whole and complete food – a super food – and not a supplement. It is the most nutrient dense food on the planet, containing glyco-proteins, vitamins, minerals, simple carbohydrates, lipids, and biologically active enzymes. Due to its nutritious soft cell wall it is readily absorbed so the body uses only a small amount of bodily energy to convert this super food into fuel.

CORDYCEPS SINENSIS

ATP and Oxygen Carry Capacities…

Cordyceps is of a similar chemistry as mushrooms. However, it is believed to have a unique and precious type of chemistry, especially for athletes. As described above, cordyceps increases our ATP levels, our bodies’ “fuel.” Where does ATP come from and how does cordyceps increase it? Every cell in our body has these amazing little cellular structures called mitochondria. The mitochondria convert the nutrients from the food we consume into adenosine triphosphate, or as we commonly refer to it, ATP.

As long as we produce more ATP than our body uses, we have an energy surplus and our body feels great. On the other hand, if those tiny mitochondria cannot keep up with the body’s demand for energy – we have an energy deficit – and this can lead to problems. This is where the fungi’s benefits come in. Cordyceps provides strong support to mitochondrial health, as well as maintaining higher numbers of well-functioning mitochondria. More healthy mitochondria means more ATP, and more ATP is more fuel for us.

Having additional ATP for the body to use gives athletes an advantage in terms of performance during in competition and training, and also it gives competitive athletes the ability to recover. Since ATP is made on demand, the stores kept by our body are not very large. The implication of this is that we can run out of ATP quickly. In order to function at a high level, we need to continuously produce ATP to keep up with our energy expense. Cordyceps allows us to potentially maximize our energy capabilities.

On top of the ATP increases, cordyceps sinensis contains a plethora of other exceptional nutrients such as proteins, nucleic acid, a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as polysaccharides and beta-glucans, which have both been shown to be useful in improving immunity.

ECHINACEA

Vo2 and Epo
Echinacea is an herb known for its ability to boost the immune system. Recent studies show that it may also help considerably in improving factors that increase athletic performance – especially through its ability to increase EPO and VO2 Max.

In Practice
Pairing Echinacea with sources of heme iron and other blood-building ingredients available from ingredients such as Liver Anhydrate (a supplement in BioTropic), the EPO-boosting Echinacea can assist in providing a serious edge for the elite athlete – namely in endurance and energy output, coming from a boost in red blood cell counts and a healthier immune system.

Sources: See Studies link.

ARGENTINIAN GRASS-FED (VEGAN FED) LIVER ANHYDRATE

The Importance of Heme Iron…

Heme Iron

Heme iron is absolutely essential for athletes and can be even more beneficial to female athletes due to their higher requirements. Iron is an essential part of haemoglobin in blood and myglobin in muscles, and copper is an essential part of the enzymes that produce them. Both haemoglobin and myoglobin are highly important for physical performance as they deliver oxygen to cells. Maximizing this oxygen delivery by supplementing with a heme iron source is crucial in optimizing athletic performance, and can substantially increase endurance.

In addition to this, the human body uses red blood cells and haemoglobins as a source of protein for muscle repair – even more so when protein intake is inadequate around the time of exercise. Keeping an elevated intake of heme iron can help in keeping red blood cell and haemoglobin levels high, allowing the body to keep oxygen delivery high as well as maximizing recovery capacity.

Not All Vitamin B12 Is Equal – This Is The Best
Vitamin B12 is another super-beneficial vitamin for athletes. Also known as Cobalamin, it is an amazing source of Cobalt for our bodies. It is vital for growth and repair and plays a very important role in cell division. You have probably heard of athletes injecting vitamin B12 for a boost in energy and performance; although orally-taken B12 is not as potent as direct injection into the bloodstream, consuming sufficient amounts of it can be highly beneficial to red blood cell production – increasing endurance and recovery time.