A first-of-its kind study has found that turmeric supplementation has a positive impact on performance and recovery for professional athletes.
With turmeric supplementation now being an established fundamental day-to-day process at several professional Welsh sports teams, the shots founded by former Wales and Premier League striker Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu have been proven to reduce muscle damage and soreness post-exercise.
Robson-Kanu’s business, The Turmeric Co., currently supports Cardiff City, Haverfordwest County and Swansea City, which sees the functional nutrition company work alongside the club’s first teams by supplying a range of its supplements to support with the rigorous
training schedules by aiding recovery.
This study, conducted in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, explored whether a turmeric supplement could enhance recovery in elite male footballers. It found that supplementation with raw turmeric, in the form of The Turmeric Co.’s Raw Turmeric Original shot, reduces inflammation and soreness post-exercise.
Curcumin, the key active ingredient in turmeric, is a dietary compound with anti-inflammatory properties that has previously been shown to reduce muscle damage and soreness post-exercise when taken in a bioavailable form.
Patrick Orme, Head of Sports Science at Swansea City, said: “Our continued use of the Turmeric Co. products has aided players’ recovery after both training and matches.
“With such a competitive schedule on the pitch and the miles covered off it in preparation for games, their products are a real benefit to our overall squad performance.
“We are seeing more minutes being played in matches now and the demands placed on players means we have to do everything we can to ensure they prepare and recover in the optimal way.”
Tony Pennock, Haverfordwest County First Team Manager, said: “Everybody has got different tastes, but they fit into the lads’ pre and post-match routine. Post-match and post-training is most important, and it starts their recovery for the next game then. Having different flavours is really important, but the Vitamin C one I think is really important – particularly during the winter months.”
Dylan Rees, Haverfordwest County First Team Captain, said: “I love using Turmeric. I use it every morning before I get up and go to school as a teacher. It helps me a lot with a busy schedule of school and football. I find it gives me a really good boost in the morning.”
The study, which included a sample of twenty-two male elite footballers from a professional English side’s first team, randomised players to either consume The Turmeric Co.’s Raw Turmeric Original 60ml shot twice per day, or to a control group who did not consume the product.
Subjective leg and whole-body soreness, strength and jump performance, alongside blood-based inflammatory marker c-reactive protein were assessed at baseline immediately (zero-hours), 40-hours and 64-hours post-match.
When comparing athletes consuming turmeric with those that didn’t, the study found that turmeric supplementation resulted in leg muscle soreness being 77% lower, whole-body muscle soreness decreased by 106% a blood marker of inflammation was 1082% lower 64-hours post-match.
Overall, turmeric supplementation is found to lower soreness and a blood marker of inflammation, suggesting turmeric may reduce fatigue post-match play and accelerate recovery.
Thomas ‘Hal’ Robson-Kanu, Founder and CEO at The Turmeric Co. said: “There’s always an element of risk when conducting a study like this that the results may not demonstrate the results you want to see. However, when you have developed such a strong product over
many years, like we have at The Turmeric Co., you have to be confident in your product and the science behind it.
“What we are seeing here is exactly what we have set out to do with our products, to provide the ultimate supplement that utilised turmeric, and its many healing properties, to enhance performance and recovery when playing sport or conducting physical exercise.
“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our ongoing partnership with Cardiff, Haverfordwest and Swansea, and are pleased to see that they are sharing similar benefits and findings from this significant clinical study into the benefits of our product on professional athletes.”
The Turmeric Co., founded by professional footballer Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu, is the UK’s leading producer of naturally produced turmeric shots, which are also used by a number of elite athletes to enhance their recovery and holistic health. The Turmeric Co. has spent over a decade perfecting its range of turmeric shots to optimise the health benefits they deliver.
Find out more at www.theturmeric.co
