Encourages Muscle Recruitment and Endurance
Ginseng is a herb that comes from the root of the ginseng plant. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine and was first introduced to Western medicine by a French doctor in 1623. Ginseng has many benefits, but one that stands out particularly useful for athletes is its ability to help with muscle recruitment and endurance.
The best way to understand how ginseng can help improve endurance is by exploring what happens when working out at the gym or play sports, which causes small tears in the muscles, called microtrauma.
As part of this process, the body releases proteins called cytokines into the bloodstream. These cytokines trigger inflammation and aid in recovery. However, too much inflammation can lead to chronic illnesses such as arthritis or heart disease. While some degree of inflammation is needed after exercise because it helps for faster recovery than if they didn’t have any, too much can be a bad thing.
This is where ginseng comes in. It helps reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of cytokines and making the immune system less aggressive. Muscles inflamed and sore from a hard workout are less likely to get injured, so they can be work out more complex and faster without worrying about soreness or injury.
