Athletes push themselves hard in competition and training. Tired, sore muscles are depleted of energy and have microscopic damage that takes time and the right nutrition to repair and remodel.
ENHANCED RECOVERY™ is specifically formulated to provide the nutrients required for more rapid and complete recovery. Check out the 4 areas where ENHANCED RECOVERY™ supports the athlete’s body to achieve more complete recovery, as well as promote the cellular adaptations essential for improved performance.
Stimulate muscle protein synthesis
All of the benefits of hard training — for example, increased strength, speed and stamina — result from the production of new functional proteins inside muscle cells.
The production of new proteins requires a sustained increase in muscle protein synthesis (MPS). MPS is the process where damaged muscle proteins are repaired with the help of proteins consumed in the diet. New muscle proteins are added whenever MPS is consistently greater than muscle protein breakdown (MPB).
ENHANCED RECOVERY™ is specifically formulated with high-quality proteins and omega-3 fatty acids to synergistically maximize MPS. For example, the combination of omega-3s and protein has been shown to result in greater MPS and gains in muscle mass than if the ingredients are taken separately.
ENHANCED RECOVERY™ supplies a mix of nutrients known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis: omega-3 fatty acids, whey protein (including 2 grams of leucine, the amino acid that initiates MPS), collagen peptides and carnitine. These ingredients were chosen because research shows their benefits to MPS, lean body mass, muscle strength, bone strength and certain motor skills associated with sports.
Support a healthy inflammatory and antioxidant response
Inflammation and oxidation are unavoidable cellular responses to hard training, in part due to the damage that muscle cells experience. Some inflammation and oxidation are actually beneficial because they serve as important signals for the adaptations that improve fitness and performance.
However, too much inflammation and oxidation results in a failure to properly adapt to training. The natural antioxidants in ENHANCED RECOVERY™ help keep inflammation and oxidation from getting out of control. The fruit polyphenols in the apple, pear and blackcurrant juice blend, along with low levels of vitamins D and E, also help support immunity and overall muscle health.
Reduce muscle damage and soreness
Hard training inevitably causes some muscle damage and resulting stiffness, soreness and a temporary loss in strength and functional capacity. The omega-3 fatty acids, carnitine and fruit polyphenols in ENHANCED RECOVERY™ are known to speed the return to intense training by reducing muscle damage and soreness, and speeding the return of muscle strength.
Begin to replenish muscle glycogen stores
ENHANCED RECOVERY™ provides enough carbohydrates to support the early stages of glycogen resynthesis. The fruit-based carbs — sucrose, glucose and fructose — are quickly absorbed, transported and taken up as glucose by muscles that are in need of refueling.
Want to see more on the science behind the omega-3 sports drink? You can find out more on The Science and Ingredients pages.
References for “Stimulate muscle protein synthesis” section:
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Jendricke P, Centner C, Zdzieblik D, Gollhofer A, Konig D. Specific collagen peptides in combination with resistance training improve body composition and regional muscle strength in premenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):1-12.
Konig D, Oesser S, Scharla S, Zdzieblik D, Gollhofer A. Specific collagen peptides improve bone mineral density and bone markers in postmenopausal women—a randomized controlled study. Nutrients. 2018;10(1):1-11.
Oertzen-Hagemann V, Kirmse M, Eggers B, et al. Effects of 12 weeks of hypertrophy resistance exercise training combined with collagen peptide supplementation on the skeletal muscle proteome in recreationally active men. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1-18.
Philpott JD, Witard OC, Galloway SDR. Applications of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for sport performance. Res Sports Med. 2018:1-19.
Praet SFE, Purdam CR, Welvaert M, et al. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides combined with calf-strengthening exercises enhances function and reduces pain in Achilles tendinopathy patients. Nutrients. 2019;11(1):1-16.
Shaw G, Lee-Barthel A, Ross ML, Wang B, Baar K. Vitamin C-enriched gelatin supplementation before intermittent activity augments collagen synthesis. Amer J Clin Nutr. 2017;105(1):136-143.
Smith GI, Atherton P, Reeds DN, et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids augment the muscle protein anabolic response to hyperinsulinaemia-hyperaminoacidaemia in healthy young and middle-aged men and women. Clin Sci. 2011;121(6):267-278.
West DWD, Abou Sawan S, Mazzulla M, Williamson E, Moore DR. Whey protein supplementation enhances whole body protein metabolism and performance recovery after resistance exercise: a double-blind crossover study. Nutrients. 2017;9(7):1-18.
Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Baumstark MW, Gollhofer A, Konig D. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Brit J Nutr. 2015;114(8):1237-1245.
References for “Support a healthy inflammatory and antioxidant response” section:
Braakhuis AJ, Hopkins WG. Impact of dietary antioxidants on sport performance: a review. Sports Med. 2015;45(7):939-955.
Calder PC. n-3 fatty acids, inflammation and immunity: new mechanisms to explain old actions. Proc Nutr Society. 2013;72(3):326-336.
Jouris KB, McDaniel JL, Weiss EP. The effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the inflammatory response to eccentric strength exercise. J Sports Sci Med. 2011;10(3):432-438.
Lalia AZ, Dasari S, Robinson MM, et al. Influence of omega-3 fatty acids on skeletal muscle protein metabolism and mitochrondrial bioenergetics in older adults. Aging. 2017;9(4):1096-1115.
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References for “Reduce muscle damage and soreness” section:
Black KE, Witard OC, Baker D, et al. Adding omega-3 fatty acids to a protein-based supplement during pre-season training results in reduced muscle soreness and the better maintenance of explosive power in professional Rugby Union players. Eur J Sports Sci. 2018;18(10):1357-1367.
Corder KE, Newsham KR, McDaniel JL, Ezekiel UR, Weiss EP. Effects of short-term docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on markers of inflammation after eccentric strength exercise in women. J Sports Sci Med. 2016;15(1):176-183.
Fielding R, Riede L, Lugo JP, Bellamine A. l-carnitine supplementation in recovery after exercise. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):1-17.
Kirmse M, Oertzen-Hagemann V, de Marees M, Bloch W, Platen P. Prolonged collagen peptide supplementation and resistance exercise training affects body composition in recreationally active men. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1-16.
Ochi E, Tsuchiya Y, Yanagimoto K. Effect of eicosapentaenoic acids-rich fish oil supplementation on motor nerve function after eccentric contractions. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14(23):1-8.
Philpott JD, Donnelly C, Walshe IH, et al. Adding fish oil to whey protein, leucine, and carbohydrate over a six-week supplementation period attenuates muscle soreness following eccentric exercise in competitive soccer players. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018;28(1):26-36.
Tsuchiya Y, Yanagimoto K, Nakazato K, Hayamizu K, Ochi E. Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids-rich fish oil supplementation attenuates strength loss and limited joint range of motion after eccentric contractions: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016;116(6):1179-1188.
References for “Begin to replenish muscle glycogen stores” section:
Burke LM, van Loon LJ, Hawley JA. Post-exercise muscle glycogen resynthesis in humans. J Appl Physiol. 2017;122(5):1055-1067.
Gray EA, Green TA, Betts JA, Gonzalez JT. Postexercise glucose-fructose coingestion augments cycling capacity during short-term and overnight recovery from exhaustive exercise, compared with isocaloric glucose. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019:1-8.
Murray B, Rosenbloom C. Fundamentals of glycogen metabolism for coaches and athletes. Nutr Rev. 2018;76(4):243-259. Willems ME, Myers SD, Gault ML, Cook MD. Beneficial physiological effects with blackcurrant intake in endurance athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015;25(4):367-374.