Athletes

We promote regular physical exercise because it is beneficial physically and psychologically. However, too much of anything is bad and excessive exercise can also have adverse physical and psychological effects. Exercise dependence, also known as exercise addiction, is a behavioural addiction, it is characterised by an excessive preoccupation with exercise. The prevalence of exercise addiction ranging from around 3% to over 40% of the population depends on the demographic of people tested. For instance, the prevalence of exercise addiction of people in a sports club is higher compared to that of in the entire population. Currently, there're still no universally recognised, distinct criteria separating exercise addiction to healthy habits or compulsory disorders. Researchers and medical professionals nevertheless constructed general guidelines to identify exercise addiction. Below is one of the more recognised ones as reviewed by Freimuth et al 2011 (International Journal for Environmental Research and Public Health).

• Tolerance: increase the amount of exercise in order to feel the buzz and accomplishment;
• Withdrawal: feeling anxious, irritable and sleepless in the absence of exercise;
• Lack of control: unable to reduce the level or amount of exercise for a period of time;
• Intention effects: exceeding the amount of time devoted to exercise beyond originally intended on a consistent basis;
• Time: a great deal of time is spend on preparing, engaging in, and recovering from exercise;
• Reduction in other activities: reduced or non-existent social, occupational and/or recreational activities as a direct result of exercise;
• Continuance: continue to exercise despite knowing that it is exacerbating or creating physical, psychological and sociological problems.

Remember, the purpose of this article is to raise awareness, it is not meant for self-diagnosis. See a health care professional if you feel that you might be addictive to exercise and it's affecting you negatively.

If you're a gym rat, this article is for you.

Weight lifting is one of the most popular ways to stay fit and achieve the body you want. Every physical activity takes a toll on the body and weight lifting may place quite a high demand. From heavy weight to improper technique, the risk for injuring joints and connective tissue via weight training is high. One of the best ways you can protect your body is to supplement with joint support. Let's take a look at 4 reasons why joint supplements need to be right next to your whey protein.

4. Compound Movements Take a Toll

The classic bodybuilding movements (squat, deadlift, and bench press) are, without a doubt the most effective exercises in the industry. The problem is that these same exercises are also the ones that cause the most injuries. Sure, that may be the fault of the user sometimes as when someone tries to show off but many other times, it's not. The classic moves are triggering the greatest number of muscle groups at the same time. Add to that a great deal of weight and you are putting quite the strain on joints and connective tissue.

Connective tissue takes three times as long as muscle tissue to recover. Considering joints and connective tissue make all of your exercises possible, it becomes a necessity to look after them properly. This is where joint supplements come into play.

3. Reduce Soreness

How many times have you had to go lighter on sets or skip the gym entirely due to muscle soreness?

Muscle soreness is just a natural part of exercise but it can get to the point where you're not able to perform at your normal level and that's an issue. Joint supplements that contain glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM have been suggested in a number of studies to be very beneficial for recovery by alleviating soreness. (1, 2)

2. Alleviate Inflammation

In the case of muscle tissue, inflammation is the actual soreness that you're feeling in the muscle itself. When it comes to joints and connective tissue, the inflammation you feel in these areas can be uncomfortable to downright painful. Ever do too much with the barbell squat to find your knee clicking and hurting the following day? Inflammation is the body's way of signaling healing but too much inflammation can be problematic. Joint supplements, especially those with MSM, have been suggested to be powerful anti-inflammatory agents. This will provide you with a natural alternative to over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, which can cause stomach issues. (1, 2)

1. Proper Lubrication

It's not something you think about but your joints and connective tissue need to be properly lubricated in order to function at maximum effort.

Think of your elbows and knees like the internal mechanisms in a car. If you didn't place oil into your car, there would be no lubrication for the engine to work from. The result would be a gnashing and grinding of gears until the engine exploded.

Your joints need proper lubrication for function AND protection. This is to ensure that cartilage doesn't start grinding against cartilage. The best way to support proper lubrication of joints? Supplements that are heavy in glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. Studies suggest that these three ingredients, working together, can promote better lubrication, thereby alleviating the symptoms mentioned above while protecting the tissue. (1, 2)

If you're ready to start supporting your joints, click here to take a look at one of our top sellers.

References

1. National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. The NIH Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT). J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2008;22(1):39-43.

2. Usha PR, Naidu MU. Randomised, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study of Oral Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane and their Combination in Osteoarthritis. Clin Drug Investig. 2004;24(6):353-63.