The Top Three Herbs in Sports Nutrition
If you are responding to the growing demand for organic and herbal sports nutrition products, you won't need to search hard or far. You can easily find a plethora of herbs that have applications in sports nutrition or can enhance athletic performance for both pros and amateurs. But when it comes to evidence-backed herbs, Gene Bruno – MS, MHS, RH(AHG), Vice President, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at NutraScience Labs and Professor of Nutraceutical Science at Huntington University of Health Sciences – has three herbs he recommends to all sports nutrition supplement companies looking to create cutting-edge and effective products: Ashwagandha, Citrus Bergamut, and Shilajit.
Ashwagandha Extract
Ashwagandha (or Withania somnifera) has been a staple in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3,000 years and is a popular adaptogenic herb in modern plant-based dietary supplements. When it comes to sports nutrition, evidence suggests that ashwagandha extracts can increase testosterone levels in men, which can help build and maintain muscle. Additionally, studies have also shown that ashwagandha extracts can improve muscle size and strength, help reduce body fat percentage, and enhance cardiorespiratory endurance for an improved self-assessed quality of life.
Citrus Bergamot
There is strong scientific evidence suggesting bergamot polyphenolic fractions (BPF) in citrus bergamot fruit can increase nitric oxide (NO) levels and VO2 max, which can impact the "muscle pump" and help improve the efficiency of weight-training sessions.
Shilajit
Studies have shown that shilajit, another part of the rich Ayurvedic tradition, can increase testosterone and free testosterone levels, exercise time, and adenosine triphosphate levels (aka the body’s “energy currency”).
And although there is an array of herbs that can be useful in sports nutrition, ashwagandha, citrus bergamot, and shilajit are three of the best alternatives with strong scientific evidence to support their positive impact on baseline fitness and benefits in fitness applications and sports nutrition.
For more details, read Gene’s full article in Nutritional Outlook.
How Can NutraScience Help You Create High-quality Sports Nutrition Supplements?
Now that you know the 3 herbs Gene recommends including in your sports nutrition formulas, the next step is to find a qualified supplement manufacturing company. That’s where NutraScience Labs can help!
With more than 120 years of combined nutraceutical industry experience, NutraScience Labs has an impeccable reputation for being the go-to contract manufacturer for supplement brands seeking to formulate and manufacture high-quality dietary supplement formulas. In addition to our award-winning contract manufacturing services, our full-service packaging & label design and fulfillment services have saved more than 2,300 supplement businesses countless amounts of time, money, and stress.
To get started, call 855-492-7388 to speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives or send us your request to receive a competitive supplement manufacturing price quote.