MSM may be the ideal sports nutrient. It provides a powerful combination of effects that athletes seek:
- Support for optimal energy levels
- Relief from pain and inflammation caused by overexertion and injuries
- Building block for regeneration of damaged connective tissue.
MSM is a naturally occurring nutrient that provides the body with essential sulfur and methyl groups used in healing and repair processes. Professional and amateur athletes value MSM for effective nutritional support of athletic performance and recovery from soft tissue and joint injuries. In addition, active individuals can safely supplement with MSM over the long term. As a result, athletes can achieve improved performance, pain relief, and enhanced tissue repair without fear of side effects.
Sulfur: The Key to Healthy Connective Tissue
Sports activities can build strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness. But they also increase the risk of minor injuries and can cause wear-and-tear on joints, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues. Athletes strive to improve their performance, but they also need to protect their bodies against injuries small and large, and MSM can help. MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane, a naturally-occurring form of organic sulfur. MSM provides powerful nutritional support for healthy musculoskeletal and respiratory function. It also supports connective tissues: hair, skin, nails, joints, etc. Connective tissue has unusually high requirements for sulfur, and MSM – which is 34% sulfur by weight – can effectively meet these needs.
Methyl Groups: Stoking the Fires of Metabolism
From the generation of energy to the synthesis of hormones, many metabolic processes in the body depend upon methyl groups. Methyl groups containing one carbon and three hydrogen atoms (CH3) shuttle between various bio-molecules as a regulatory currency. Nutrients that donate methyl groups (e.g., MSM folic acid, vitamin B12, trimethylglycine, S-adenosylmethionine) can have wide-ranging effects on health and longevity. Research suggests that MSM may be an effective methyl donor. The donation of methyl groups by MSM may partially explain why athletes taking MSM report increased stamina and alertness during their sports activities.
MSM for Sport Injuries
Every year, thousands of athletes suffer debilitating injuries. They often end up taking painkillers such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs alleviate pain and inflammation but, taken over the long-term, may interfere with the healing of connective tissue. Most sports injuries involve pain, redness, heat, and swelling: the four cardinal signs of inflammation. MSM supplementation can assist the healing process without the side effects typically associated with NSAIDs.