The Muscle Mag
Presenting at the Biogredia symposium on women’s health last week in Gstaad, Switzerland, she emphasized the importance of considering the impact of the menstrual cycle on women’s health, especially in female athletes.
“Utilization of carbohydrates and fats can vary throughout the menstrual cycle, making it extremely challenging to ‘biohack’ a female body,” she told NutraIngredients.
Elite athletes strive for continuous improvement, where even a 1% enhancement in performance can be significant as they aim to optimize their physical capabilities.
Research into functional ingredients can play a crucial role in supporting athletes by helping them maintain or increase lean muscle mass, while also addressing bone health, recovery, endocrine function, and more.
Next steps for society and industry
Hill pointed out that the increasing prominence of women’s sports highlights the growing demand from both viewers and female athletes.
She noted, “Consumers are looking for more tailored solutions, recognizing the differences between men and women. The success of launching products and receiving orders from these consumers depends on the growth of women in sports.”
Hill predicted that in the next two to three years, the industry will establish clear categories within women’s health and emphasize personalized nutrition.
A personal perspective
As an international cricket player, Hill shared her personal experience on the field.
She highlighted the importance of establishing equity in sports, expressing hope for a more level playing field in the future. Hill aims to see genuine gender equality and equity within the next five years.
Gencor’s focus on developing scientifically-backed solutions for female health at all life stages was emphasized by Hill.
Pain reduction with Levagen+
Levagen+ combines palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and Gencor’s patented dispersion technology Lipisperse to enhance bioavailability.
Past studies have shown the effectiveness of Levagen+ in reducing joint discomfort, lactate levels, and muscle damage during exercise recovery.
Gencor’s upcoming study on the impact of Levagen+ on menstrual pain is expected to reveal a significant reduction in pain severity compared to a placebo.
Hill stated, “We aimed to address the prevalent issue of menstrual pain, offering a safe and effective alternative to traditional pain medications like Advil and ibuprofen.”
Training and recovery with Hydrocurc
Hill explained that iron absorption is a significant challenge for female health, especially in female athletes due to exercise-induced mechanisms during endurance activities.
Gencor’s curcuminoid extract Hydrocurc has shown functional benefits for female sports enthusiasts and athletes, with recent research indicating improved iron absorption with Hydrocurc supplementation.
Research also suggests that Hydrocurc can reduce lactate levels, decrease delayed onset muscle soreness, and support a balanced inflammatory response, potentially allowing for quicker recovery or higher exercise thresholds.
Muscle strength and Libifem
Recent studies have demonstrated that Gencor’s fenugreek ingredient Libifem enhances strength and lean muscle mass while reducing fat mass in female athletes.
Findings showed that daily supplementation with a 600 mg dose of Libifem, in combination with resistance training, significantly increased strength and lean mass while decreasing total fat mass and trunk fat mass.
