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A Healthy Performance Booster
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For more pedaling power, try eating like Lance. That’s because the skinny super-athlete eats his fair share of fruits and vegetables rich in quercetin, an antioxidant that can boost your endurance capabilities, according to a small study out of the University of South Carolina.
When researchers had 12 cyclists down two daily 500 mg doses of quercetin, they experienced a 13-percent increase in their cardiovascular endurance and a 4-percent increase in VO2 max when compared to rides without supplementing with the antioxidant.
The mechanism: quercetin may increase the mitochondria (or the power generator) in brain and muscle cells, according to the study’s authors.
The performance enhancer can be obtained naturally through red apples, red onions, berries, cabbages and broccoli, and green and black teas. While further research is needed to confirm the potential worth of quercetin, go ahead and add the above antioxidant-packed foods to your shopping list.
About The Author
David Schipper – David began writing for CorePerformance.com in 2008, after spending six years at Men's Health magazine digging up the newest scientific research in health, weight loss, nutrition, muscle and cardiovascular fitness.
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