Its quite certain you have heard the saying that “Getting a good night sleep…” is essential for many things, but most importantly for athletes, its ability to improve performance. Yes many athletes have trouble getting sleep before a big event and ultimately, that single sleep “session” may not be easy to change or even be that important to change as adrenaline can and usually does take over in competition. However, every training session, every day off, and every other day other than the night before (assuming it will be hard to truly get sleep) a contest, matters. Significantly. It has been well-documented that proper sleep improves many bodily functions including recovery, muscle-protein synthesis, and overall health and immune function.
Beyond a true good night’s sleep however, is relaxation and the absolute ability to “Just Chill”. De-stressing may be as valuable as a good sleep for those who have trouble sleeping or resting properly. Along those lines, it may be difficult for people to unwind if they are perpetually stimulated by caffeine or other stimulants, especially when used in workout formulas towards the end of the day. Relaxation, whether able to completely unwind, clear the mind, or just slow down, can provide significant benefit for anyone, but even more so for the performance athlete.
The Physiology of Sleep
What happens when we sleep? Lots of assumptions, several facts, and much thought has gone in to this question. For some, it is simply about shutting down, allowing the body to rest, while for others, the belief that an entire transformation of the body takes place. The truth is likely somewhere in between, but for athletes, those under heavy stress, and those pushing themselves physically beyond a normal day, leaning towards the transformation end is likely more accurate. But, sleep itself, may be quite a bit more than just hitting the pillow and hoping to drift off into dream.
There is still a lot to be learned about the physiology of sleep according to most experts, however, while exact processes are both individualistic and still a bit of a mystery, there are a few consensus facts that prove that sleep is not just beneficial, it is needed. Probably, the biggest role sleep provides is recovery, but not just muscle recovery, recovery of your mind and the rest of your body. Over a typical day, the body undergoes stress, trauma, inflammation, tissue breakdown and simply gets beat up. Sleep allows time for the body to shut down normal day processes such as movement and exercise but also continues reparation including reduction in inflammation and regeneration of torn up cells. Even rest itself has been proven, while not as effective as full out sleep, to help mitigate damage and repair worn out body parts. As your body cycles through the various stages of non-REM deep sleep and REM sleep, it does its major rebuilding, while giving your cardiovascular, respiratory and nerve activity a break. While those aspects take some time off, cerebral blood flow and endocrine functions begin ramp up to help improve cognitive and other brain functions as well as release growth and thyroid related hormones. These quintessential activities are why advocates place such an emphasis on sleep and how it relates to athletic performance.
What Is GABA and How Does It Work
GABA is short for Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. Its main role acts to reduce excitability in the brain and throughout the body’s nervous system. Essentially, it is the key neurotransmitter that blocks specific activity from occurring in the brain. At first, that may sound like a bad thing, but when the body is over-stressed, anxious, restless, and over-stimulated, low levels of circulating GABA will not help relax the body or the brain. Low GABA is a main cause for depression, anxiety, mood disorders, tension, stress, inability to sleep and impaired recovery. When GABA is supplemented regularly, an overall sense of well-being and reduction in stress are clearly evident. Supplementing at specific times, such as before bed, may also help improve sleep, but certainly helps to relax the body and mind and ease in to sleep more easily. GABA supplementation has been shown to reduce stress while creating calmness and a relaxed state which contributes to improved sleep patterns and improved recovery. Further research has shown that regular daily supplementation with GABA may reduce stress and anxiety and help with overall brain function throughout the day and thus may prove to be effective in products that enhance focus, cognition and promote well-being.
The Pharma GABA Effect – Real GABA, Real Results
Few would disagree that GABA doesn’t have a place in reducing stress, helping relax and ultimately improving overall sleep, which in turn improves overall health. However, not all GABA is the same, and thus, taking generic synthetic, cheap, and/or unknown-sourced GABA doesn’t appear to have the same effect as that derived from pure fermented sources such as cabbage (kimchi). Pharma GABA, the real stuff, is made by enzymes via microbial fermentation, producing a body-similar GABA that is clean and pure. It is questionable as to whether synthetic GABA can even pass through the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and thus has limited effects. However, Pharma GABA, not only has the ability to pass through the BBB but due to its ability to affix the gut receptors, it is markedly superior in both absorption and effect. Pharma GABA has shown to be effective within minutes of consumption. Thus, Pharma GABA is a powerful partner when it comes to relaxing, improving focus and getting a good night’s sleep.
The Athletic Edge
Ok, so it may not be a stretch to see that Pharma GABA can help with stress, relaxation and sleep, but how can it help with athletic performance? Remember if GABA is a neurotransmitter designed to reduce stress and balance excitability and neuronal activity. Thus, it can help by providing laser sharp focus and concentration but also to help manage and control stress-fatigue allowing you to push through tough workouts. Taken before exercise, it is believed that it may help improve performance by helping control stress and pain where inevitability, you would quit or reduce your output. Thus, you can train longer, stronger and with better precision. For endurance athletes, this means more reps and sets. For those looking to improve muscle size and quality, this means more volume. Improving performance in the weight room starts with energy but ends with continued focus to pound out those last few reps with perfect precision. This makes Pharma GABA not only ideal for helping with recovery through sleep and relaxation but also can be a game-changer during workouts, training and competition.
Formulating With Pharma GABA
Combining Pharma GABA with a high quality Theanine and/or other nootropics in a post workout, evening sleep, or even a general mood-enhancing, relaxation product, makes sound sense. Pharma GABA has also been shown to be quite effective when paired with amino acids and glutamic acid, which means it makes a perfect complement to a full-featured BCAA and/or Essential Amino Acid product. Because of its ability to help with controlling anxiety and stress, Pharma GABA is a great addition to pre-workouts as it can help to smooth out the caffeine-based kick as well as provide that much needed focus to stay strong through the whole workout. Any way you slice it, Pharma GABA clearly has an advantage to those looking to improve performance during their workouts, in competition and over time. Manufacturers, Formulators, and Brand Managers should take a close look at Pharma GABA as an upgrade to their performance-based products. Anyone serious about their athletic endeavors should add Pharma GABA to their daily routines and before they go down for the night. One-upping the competition starts with a good night’s sleep and there is no better partner to accomplish that, then Pharma GABA.