Welcome to my weekly summary of the latest research from the world of sports science!
These three new studies highlight how simple factors—your diet, hydration, and supplementation—can influence athletic performance and recovery. Learn how diet may affect your grip strength, why a wearable hydration sensor could revolutionize fluid tracking, and what fish oil might do for post-workout soreness—read on.
Could Your Diet Be Impacting Your Grip Strength?
This study compared grip strength and endurance between 40 vegetarians and 40 omnivores. Using a handgrip dynamometer, researchers found that the non-vegetarians had significantly greater grip strength and endurance. These differences remained significant even after adjusting for age and BMI, suggesting that diet may play a role in muscle performance. The authors suggest this could be due to higher intake of complete proteins, creatine, or micronutrients like B12.
My thoughts: Fascinating result. It’s tempting to blame protein intake, but that didn’t vary much. Could it be iron, creatine, or something else in animal-based foods? Lots still to uncover here.
Wearable Sensors Can Now Track Your Hydration in Real Time
This study evaluated a new arm-worn bioimpedance sensor that tracks hydration continuously. Comparing the sensor’s data to body mass loss during exercise and urine osmolality, researchers found that the sensor could reliably detect small changes in total body water—like those that occur during exercise or fasting—with a high level of accuracy. Importantly, it also showed consistent results across repeated testing meaning this device could help personalize fluid intake during sport or training.
My thoughts: This could be a game changer for elite athletes. Imagine knowing in real time how much fluid you’ve lost and exactly how much to replace. Precision hydration could become a lot more precise.
Could Fish Oil Assist With DOMS?
This study explored whether fish oil could reduce soreness and support faster recovery after tough eccentric exercise. Twenty-two healthy young adults took either three fish oil capsules or a placebo an hour before completing a plyometric session designed to cause muscle damage. Compared to the placebo group, those taking fish oil regained vertical jump height and leg strength more quickly, felt less sore at 24 and 48 hours, and showed better reductions in inflammation.
My thoughts: Fish oil, or omega-3 fatty acids in general, has been extensively studied, and high-enough doses have good evidence for reducing arthritis pain (which will interest just about every athlete over 60). Its impact on exercise recovery isn’t as strong or as conclusive, but this study adds a useful piece to the puzzle.
That’s all for this week! If you learned something new and are curious to know more, head over to the Blonyx Blog or my growing list of weekly research summaries where I help you further improve your athletic performance by keeping you up to date on the latest findings from the world of sports science.
– Train hard!
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