A recent published study1 has shown that that an unusual natural supplement could help improve your performance in the gym.
Scientists looked at the effect of taking chlorella, a type of green algae that grows in fresh water and can be harvested and dried for use as a food supplement, on high intensity intermittent exercise. The researchers discovered that, over a period of six weeks, as expected, HIIE training significantly improved exercise performance, measured as the number of repeats of a swimming test. Alongside this visible increase in performance the scientists also found an increase in the efficiency of the body’s energy metabolism and lactate removal systems.
It was seen that when chlorella was taken alone, without exercise, these increases in performance were also seen.
Most notably however, when chlorella intake was combined with training there was a more pronounced increase in exercise performance and the efficiency of the body’s energy production and lactate removal systems, than with either exercise or chlorella intake alone.
How to benefit from chlorella
You don’t need to go wading through ponds with a net to be able to benefit from the algae as there are now a host of chlorella supplements available, both in granule form, to be added to smoothies and shakes, or as tablets.
Some of the most efficient products come from Sun Chlorella, whose new DYNO®-Mill technology breaks down the cell walls of the algae (without the use of heat or chemicals which can reduce the quality of the chlorella) to ensure when you use either their granules or tablets you’re getting the most nutrients possible.
1. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2017 Jan 25. High-intensity intermittent exercise training with chlorella intake accelerates exercise performance and muscle glycolytic and oxidative capacity in rats. Horii N, Hasegawa N1, Fujie S1, Uchida M, Miyamoto-Mikami E, Hashimoto T1, Tabata I2, Iemitsu M3.
