CAN HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS IMPROVE PERFORMANCE?
Athletes looking to improve athletic performance, enhance immunity, or manage a health concern may be interested in trying herbs in their nutrition program. Herbs have a long history of use and it is conceivable that some herbs may be of benefit for athletes and non-active people alike. However, quality research on herbs-both for health effects and performance-enhancement on the athletic field-is very limited; there is insufficient scientific support for the use of any herb to improve performance. Still, many studies—mostly of lesser quality—on a variety of herbs have noted potential benefits, including immune enhancement, decreases in inflammation, and the potential ability to recover faster from common colds and other ailments. Regulation of Herbs In the United States, herbs are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as dietary supplements as part of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Herbs are not required to be standardized, and there ar
