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Will Sesame Seeds be the Next Big Sports Supplement?
There are very few sports supplements that actually work.
Of the supplements studied to date, the most proven are caffeine, creatine, nitrates (such as beet juice), beta-alanine, and sodium bicarbonate.
Perhaps sesame seeds will soon join that list.
A recent scientific study looked at the effects of sesame supplementation on muscle damage markers, oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and aerobic performance in male semi-pro soccer players.
In the study, 20 athletes were randomly assigned to either take 40 g (equivalent to 2 tablespoons) per day of sesame or a placebo. The study took place during the final 28 days of their soccer season, a time when wear and tear on the body is at its peak.
During this time, the athletes were training 6 days per week, 3 hours per day. This type of intensive training at the end of a long season produces damage of muscle tissues, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the body.
Athletes are always looking for ways to minimize these negative effects of over-training in order to perform better.
In this case, sesame seeds helped them do just that.
The athletes supplementing with sesame seeds showed significant increases in both aerobic capacity…
