This week in the world of sports science, here’s what happened…
- The emerging popularity of broccoli juice
- Are kipping handstand push-ups safe?
- Nikita Tszyu is back with more unconventional diet choices!
The emerging popularity of broccoli juice
Broccoli juice is emerging as the latest trend in the cycling community. The Swedish brand Nomio has taken the lead by being the first to develop and market this innovative supplement. Recently, Nomio teamed up with prominent cyclist Mads Pedersen.
Claims about broccoli juice indicate that it helps reduce oxidative stress, allowing athletes to train at higher intensities and aiding in faster recovery. According to Nomio, Pedersen has reported an impressive increase of 15 to 20 watts across all power zones after just one shot of broccoli juice.
Interestingly, a 2023 study on broccoli juice indicated that it lowers lactate acid production and enhances physiological adaptations from training. While further research is warranted, the potential benefits of broccoli juice for endurance athletes look quite promising.
If you would like a foundational education on sports supplements, our excellent course, Sports Supplements by Dr. Robert Naughton, is highly recommended.
Are kipping handstand push-ups safe?
The kipping handstand push-up is a popular exercise, particularly among the CrossFit community, but its safety has come under scrutiny. A recent study investigated the forces that the kipping handstand push-up exerts on the head and neck, comparing these forces to thresholds that could potentially harm the cervical spine.
In the study, 16 participants performed three sets of kipping handstand push-ups with a force plate positioned under their heads. The results revealed that the forces generated during the exercise were within safe limits for the cervical spines of young males. However, these forces exceeded the safety threshold for females. Interestingly, the research also indicated a strong correlation between the degree of neck extension during the push-up and the pain reported afterwards.
In light of these findings, while the kipping handstand push-up appears to be safe for males, it raises concerns for females. However, further research is necessary to thoroughly assess the safety of this exercise for all participants.
If you are interested in improving neck strength, check out our blog: Improving neck strength during adolescence: Risk, recommendations and benefits.
Nikita Tszyu is back with more unconventional diet choices!
Over two years ago, we brought you the intriguing story of Australian boxing Nikita Tszyu, who sparked interest by including fresh cobra blood in his diet (see here). At the time, we pointed out the lack of scientific evidence for cobra blood! Fast forward to today, and Tszyu is once again raising eyebrows with his latest diet escapades.
This time, he’s revealed that he’s been supplementing with his wife’s breast milk and his baby’s encapsulated placenta (see here). Tszyu claims these unconventional additions have given him “crazy amounts of energy.” While some weightlifters have shared anecdotal experiences of gaining muscle after switching from regular milk to breast milk, and encapsulated placenta has gained popularity as a supplement, it’s important to note that both practices lack credible scientific evidence.
So, just like with Tszyu’s cobra blood adventure two years ago, our advice is to steer clear of breast milk and encapsulated placenta! Nevertheless, we can’t help but admire Tszyu’s relentless pursuit of the ultimate diet. His dedication to experimentation in the name of performance is certainly captivating!
From us this week:
>> New course: Anaerobic Conditioning
>> New podcast: The Future of VBT: Why It’s More Than Just a Training Tool
>> New infographic: Landing Cueing
>> New article: Hydrotherapy
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