As a fitness enthusiast, you probably know the importance of recovery—including stretching and taking rest days. But if you’re looking to boost your recovery after a particularly tough workout and elevate your fitness game, you need to pay attention to your fuel, too. Ready to up your recovery game? Keep reading.
COLLAGEN & THE BODY
First and foremost, it’s important to note that collagen is the second most abundant substance in our body, after water. Collagen also happens to be the most abundant protein in our body. (Yes, you read that right.) It helps give structure to our hair,skin,nails, bones, ligaments and tendons.
Collagen is found in all of our connective tissues, tendons, ligaments and bones, with its purpose being to provide these body parts with their strength, structure and elasticity. As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at naturally producing collagen. Our collagen peptide offerings can also be seamlessly added to your daily routine by mixing them into your favorite drinks or foods.
SHOULD ATHLETES TAKE COLLAGEN?
Despite collagen being synonymous with a more youthful appearance, one of its most important jobs is to keep our bones and connective tissue in optimal working conditions. These benefits are sometimes overlooked, but they shouldn’t be, considering that we use these body parts every day and are rightfully in need of some extra TLC. As athletes, we know workouts are important to our health, but strenuous and continuous exertion can put a strain on our bodies—especially on muscles, joints and ligaments. Incorporating ingestible collagen (aka hydrolyzed collagen peptides) into your diet can help support joint health.**
DOES COLLAGEN HELP REPAIR TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS?
At the gym, most people solely focus on building muscle. But our collagen-rich tendons, ligaments, bones, and connective tissue are actually what enable our bodies to get stronger. If you want to lift heavier weights, then you’ll need to have stronger supporting structures. That’s where Vital Performance™ comes in.
WHICH PRODUCT CAN HELP WITH WORKOUT RECOVERY?
When it comes to aiding in workout recovery, we recommend Vital Performance™ RECOVER! Designed for athletes, Vital Performance™ Recover provides a unique combination of collagen peptides and a full-spectrum amino acid (AA) profile designed to help promote athletic longevity and keep you in the game.** This product can be taken intra-workout to help increase power output and reduce muscle fatigue during a workout.**
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WHAT SETS VITAL PERFORMANCE™ RECOVER APART?
Not only does Vital Performance™ Recover contain natural electrolytes, no artificial sweeteners or colors and is NSF Certified for Sport® (powder form), but it’s also made without dairy, wheat or soy. This makes it a must-have for those with specific dietary restrictions. Plus, it boasts — as we mentioned — standout ingredients such as collagen peptides, branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and essential amino acids (EAA).
Quick lesson: Amino acids make up the proteins in the body and play a key role in muscle health and immune function (which is important to training your best).** There are nine EAAs, which the body can’t make and come from dietary sources only. Of these nine, three are BCAAs — L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine — that (when taken pre-workout) are quickly metabolized to support muscle protein synthesis, combat muscle soreness from exercise, and promote muscle recovery.**
Added glutamine, which is the most abundant amino acid in the body, helps keep up with increased demand caused by intense training.** And, Recover also helps supplement your electrolytes (minerals, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium) that carry an electric charge and play an important role in balancing water in the body and help replenish those that have been lost in sweat during exercise.**
Recover is incredibly easy to use, too. If you’re taking Recover in liquid form, just uncap and sip. Prefer adding the powder to your fitness routine? Add 2 scoops of Recover to your 16 fl oz beverage and enjoy. It’s that easy.
This uniquely tailored intra- and post-workout that’s packed with functional ingredients can help you conquer your fitness goals.** What more could you want from a workout supplement?
Vital Note: This article has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Your licensed healthcare professional can best provide you with the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition and assist you as well in deciding whether a dietary supplement will be a helpful addition to your regimen.