Found in various sources such as fruits and teas — flavonoid polyphenols are phytochemicals known for their bioactive properties. The study by Gao Z, Yin X, and Cao Q (2026) discusses the significance and future potential of bioactive peptides derived from plants in recovering from exercise-induced fatigue. The work was reported by the author(s) to have been performed without any financial or commercial affiliations that might be seen as a possible conflict of interest. A detailed examination and evaluation of the SAR for plant-derived bioactive peptides are essential for their practical application and conversion, based on their biological activity. Peptides from plants induce PPARα stimulation — facilitating fatty acid oxidation rather than storage (53, 62), which assists athletes in maintaining appropriate body composition and enhances their metabolic flexibility for varying exercise intensities and durations. One beneficial effect of incorporating plant bioactive peptides into the diets of animals and humans is the activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα) through the upregulation of PPARα transcription factors, aiding in the regulation of fatty acid conversion during treatment (28).
Two authors , S.Z. & Y.X., assessed the included literature through the Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) assessment tool. Studies must provide quantitative measurements of athletic performance or physiological indices — such as aerobic performance, anaerobic performance, heart rate, blood glucose, and so on. The included studies must include both a control group and a protein group — with the control group demonstrating a significant difference in protein intake compared to the protein group. Studies that lacked available data to be extracted and non-original studies, including letters, reviews, or editorials, were excluded during the selection process. We excluded non-human studies (including those on animals), plants, and so on. The keywords and subject heading were determined through two reviewers’ discussions, and these words were collected from the Pubmed Mesh database.
We propose that the intake of protein can enhance performance in https://www.japannakama.co.uk/a-guide-to-the-top-10-places-to-buy-cbd-in-japan/ athletes by boosting muscle strength and endurance. This research aims to synthesize existing evidence to clarify the impact of protein on athletic performance more effectively. High muscle glycogen storage has been identified as a crucial component for sustaining athletic performance following intense exercise.
Key takeaways
Schematic of plant extracts and their effects on exercise (including reducing muscle damage), improving recovery, and increasing energy availability, with examples and specific benefits. This underscores the importance of balancing ROS scavenging with preservation of adaptive signaling—a key consideration for plant-based antioxidant supplementation in sports nutrition. For practical application (this means the blend is effective even if consumed 30–60 min after training (e.g.), by athletes who experience gastrointestinal discomfort with immediate post-exercise whey intake). These additives can be classified into various categories — including herbal extracts, essential oils, and whole-plant powders, each offering unique properties and potential health benefits (7–9). However (many individuals face challenges in achieving optimal exercise performance due to factors such as oxidative stress), inflammation, and metabolic disturbances (3, 4). Vegetable oils such as olive oil and palm oil provide lipids, while fruit and vegetables contribute vitamins and minerals to the diet.
There are an estimated 400,000 different species of plants known to science (and new species are continually being described), particularly from tropical areas of the world. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Feedback Type Select a type , Required, Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Some plants that produce windblown pollen (including grasses), invoke allergic reactions in people who suffer from hay fever.
These findings suggest that high-fat diets quickly disrupt cellular metabolism (reducing energy expenditure), while a low-fat, plant-based diet has the opposite effect, increasing postprandial energy expenditure. In a 5-day experiment in human volunteers, a 55%-fat diet led to a marked increase in circulating endotoxins and, in turn, to a significant impairment of postprandial cellular glucose oxidation . This is important for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and improving glycemic control in individuals with diabetes, which is a major contributor to atherosclerosis.
Study authors were contacted to provide raw data and if not received, these data were extracted from reported figures using WebPlotDigitizer. An honorarium for participation in the meeting and preparation of this article was provided by the GSSI. Responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article lies with all authors. Additionally, selected medicinal plants offer potential performance-enhancing and recovery-boosting effects. Since training and competition leads to a structural and functional imbalance due to strenuous effort, CBD intake could potentially promote restoration of physical performance.
AI tools may have been used in the translation or editing of this article. Sycheva—editing, approval of the final version of the article. S.N. Shlykov—concept and design of the study (interpretation of results), writing of the article. To date, there is little research on cannabis for sports-related injuries or sports specific applications — just a lot of early work on other conditions.
Apart from increasing the risk of cardiac events (atherosclerosis may also narrow arteries to the legs), the brain, and other parts of the body, reducing blood flow and potentially impairing performance. To date, the daily intake has replicated the early studies that showed some benefits and there have been no dose comparison exercise recovery studies. Total phenolic content was highest for the tart cherry powder — 25 , 26 , 27 but none of these studies showed effectiveness for enhancing recovery on the days after exercise. No enhancements of recovery on the days after exercise were found for two studies using tart cherry concentrate gel or in two studies using a tart cherry powder (Tables 1 and 2). Studies using cherry juice from concentrate or juice from fresh‐frozen cherries have consistently provided enhancement of recovery (at least one positive effect noted in 9 of 11 studies).
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Subgroup analyses were conducted to provide solid evidence to explain the results of the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis employed both the fixed-effects model and the random-effects model to investigate the impact of protein intake on sports performance. A systematic database search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of protein intake on athletes’ performance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between protein intake and athletic performance.