A supplement you may never have heard of can do everything from increase your energy and stamina to reduce stress and anxiety to treat depression.
While it may not be on most Americans’ radars, the Russians have long known about it—and the Soviet Union even gave it to their Olympians, cosmonauts, and soldiers to improve their performance, boost their mood, and boost their energy. theirs.
In the 1970s, the USSR Ministry of Defense conducted top-secret tests in Siberia to find herbal solutions that would help their soldiers in Afghanistan, National Geographic reported.
One of the herbs they tested and found success with was Rhodiola rosea, a sap that grows in cold, high-altitude climates—and they found that soldiers who took it remained energized during sleep-deprivation exercises.
“It stimulates you without making you crash and burn,” Patricia Gerbarg, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College, told National Geographic.
They went on to give it to cosmonauts on the Russian space station — who were in better spirits — and Olympic athletes, who saw their endurance and recovery improve.
“This was considered a Soviet military secret,” said Dr. Petra Illig, founder of Alaska Rhodiola Products, told Slate. “Most of what was done then was unpublished and hidden in drawers in Moscow. They used it for the physical and mental performance of their soldiers and athletes.”
Although no one was allowed to talk about the tests, a Russian researcher later smuggled confidential documents into the US
Recently, Rhodiola has started to catch on more here, with countless brands selling versions with different strengths.
On Amazon, a $14.99 option from the Bronson brand has over 5,100 reviews, with buyers calling it “so calming” and claiming that “my overall energy has increased as well as my mood.” Another $17.94 bottle from the Now brand has over 3,200 reviews, with one reviewer calling it a “miracle” for her anxiety and saying it “drastically changed my life for the better.”
Although the Soviets seemed impressed with the results, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health cautions that only preliminary research shows Rhodiola’s benefits and more rigorous studies need to be conducted.
Still, these preliminary studies look promising: One conducted by Samford University in 2021 found that Rhodiola increased the speed at which men could bench press, concluding that it could “enhance explosive resistance training performance.” However, they also found that it can impair upper body strength and endurance.
Another study on women found that this led to better performance in anaerobic exercise, such as sprinting or weightlifting.
“Rhodiola rosea is classified as an adaptogen, which means it can help the body adapt to stress and promote overall resilience,” registered dietitian Chrissy Arsenault told Forbes.
As for mood, a 2017 study found that the plant eased people’s stress symptoms, while another study concluded that it may be effective in treating stress-related fatigue. Other research has shown that Rhodiola can also reduce symptoms of depression, relieve fatigue, and improve memory and concentration.
Possible side effects include dizziness, dry mouth, excessive salivation, low blood pressure and low blood sugar.
#USSR #supplement #secretly #tested #Olympians #increase #endurance
Image Source : nypost.com