If you’re an athlete or fitness enthusiast, you may find yourself feeling that you need a bit of a boost some days. The problem with most pre-workouts or synthetic supplements is that they contain unwanted additives or harmful ingredients that can have negative effects over the long term. That’s why I compiled this list of my favorite all natural tonic herbs for improving your workouts and exercise performance. These supplements will upgrade your athletic pursuits while providing a myriad of other health benefits, and none of the nasty side effects or unwanted ingredients of heavily processed workout supplements.
- Cordyceps
Cordyceps was highlighted during the 1933 Summer Olympics when the Chinese Women’s Track and Field Team cleaned house with 9 world records. Amazingly, no synthetic performance enhancers were found in these athletes, just a formula that had included cordyceps. Since then, cordyceps has exploded in popularity as a natural athletic supplement to support energy, endurance, and breath.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we can get more insight into how cordyceps aids with athletic endeavors. TCM tells us that cordyceps restores Jing, the bodies deepest energy reserve. Jing is responsible for brain function, fertility/reproductive health, body strength, immune function, bone development, and overall energetic output.
The findings of modern science supports these claims. Recent research has confirmed that cordyceps increases both cellular ATP and oxygen utilization. ATP is the molecule that releases energy into our cells. Though we get our energy from proteins and the different food sources we ingest, without ATP, the energy would be useless. With more cellular ATP and better oxygen utilization, you are provided with more fuel to burn and more oxygen to fuel it. These harmoniously combine to provide amazing results in physical performance. For athletes or anyone who is physically active, this provides an upgrade in your exercise. This alone will improve your day, providing natural, usable energy, and making cordyceps a leader in fighting fatigue.
- Polyrachis Ant
While ginseng is called the “King of Herbs,” polyrachis ant has been used for hundreds of years by Chinese herbalists and nobles, earning it the name the “Herb of Kings.” Polyrachis is a great choice for maximizing your workout performance because it can increase ATP production, making it an excellent all-natural energy boosting supplement. It is a powerful antioxidant and is used as a rejuvenating, anti-aging, and longevity tonic.
According to Chinese Medicine, polyrachis ant replenishes Qi, nourishes the blood and increases circulation, improves libido, and promotes overall wellbeing. Many people find that they are able to recover better from their workouts by taking polyrachis:
“Polyrachis has certainly helped with recovery times and muscle cell volume. The zinc is nice too, to get it from a whole food. Increased strength and feel more oxygenated when fatigue and exhaustion would typically be present.” -Harold C. 5/30/2019
- Pine Pollen
Pine pollen’s proven ability to stimulate testosterone production makes it a popular choice for high-level athletes and bodybuilders. In addition to its potent effects on hormonal health, pine pollen is a natural goldmine of nutrition, packing hundreds of vitamins, nutrients and minerals.
Pine pollen is like a natural multivitamin. It contains all of the following:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin D
- Beta Carotene
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Iron
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Manganese
Containing so many nutrients in one place, pine pollen can help you recover from your workouts by providing nutrition that may be hard to get elsewhere. Pine pollen may also relieve inflammation, further helping with recovery and muscle soreness.
Summary
With so many great natural products to choose from, you’ll no longer need to use questionable, heavily-processed pre-workouts. Read more about Cordyceps, Polyrachis Ant, or Pine Pollen in the Hyperion Herbs store, and give your workout the boost it deserves!