Recovery and supplements: Is a healthy diet and exercise enough?

It’s frustrating, it’s annoying, and quite frankly, it’s enough to make you want to throw your running shoes in the bin! When we hit a wall in our fitness plans, it’s a demoralising way to remind us that the human body has its own unique way of recovering from exercise. 

If you’re progress is flat-lining, there’s no need to let it become a source of anxiety.

Exercise should always be a source of enjoyment and a great way to spend time with family friends.  We’ve prepared an easy check-list for the every-day fitness fanatic that’s sure to help guide your recovery as you find the best balance between supplements, exercise and a healthy diet.

Rest and Recovery

Short term and long term recovery are two terms that are often used when discussing the benefits of rest for recovery after exercise.  Apart from helping repair torn muscle tissue and allowing the body to replenish its glycogen (energy stores), rest is also important towards keeping yourself mentally refreshed.

If you’re exercising to a weekly plan, implementing rest days could be a great way to make sure that you’re giving your body the time it needs to recover and replenish. 

Enjoy the rest and get back into it stronger and fitter!

Sleeping for Better Aerobic Fitness

Sleep is an often ignored part of physical health, especially for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.  A study from Michigan State University showed that Athletes who were sleep deprived were more at risk of losing aerobic endurance^[1], increasing the amount of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body.

Getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night is an easy way to make sure that your body is allowing itself to repair and recover.  Establish a consistent sleep schedule, and stick to it for the best results.

Supplementing with Ubiquinol

It’s easy to over-exercise.  Getting caught up in fitness trends, or letting the competitive side of yourself get the better of you during a friendly game of touch football can lead to injury.

Supplementing with Ubiquinol may help with the natural depletion of CoQ10 due to fatigue and oxidative stress caused by over-exercising.  In a study completed by The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the effects of Ubiquinol supplementation significantly enhanced peak power production on 100 young German Athletes^[2].

Whether you’re a Usain Bolt or a regular weekend warrior, it’s important to look after your body and enjoy sport for what it is – a great way to connect with family and friends, and a simple way to keep your body healthy.  If fatigue is an increasingly worrying issue for you, consider seeking the advice of a health professional.

Always read the label. User only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your health care practitioner.

^[1] https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_importance_of_rest_and_recovery_for_athletes#:~:text=However%2C%20rest%20and%20recovery%20is,recover%2C%20both%20physically%20and%20psychologically.

^[2] https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-10-24?optIn=false