|
Human Sports Performance™ (HSP) is a well-respected
professional organization dedicated to the science of human
sports performance, enhanced physical fitness, longevity,
research and education, and prevention of illegal and banned
substances in the sports arena.
HSP
promotes the integration of State-of-the-Art methodologies
in sports science, utilizing the latest scientific research
and practical educational for coaches, trainers, and athletes.
Jeff
Krushell, President of Human Sports Performance, is the current
International Director of Strength & Conditioning for
Major League Baseball (MLB).
Krushell
stated “The youth of America deserves a better direction and
legacy in sports than turning to drugs and illegal banned
substances. If we do not help the young generation of new
elite athletes avoid the pitfalls of drugs, many of them will
turn to performance enhancing substances.”
According
to Jeff Krushell “Science and education is the key to preventing
athletes from turning to illegal substances. If we do not
provide alternatives to performance-enhancing drugs, the next
generation of athletes will fall pray to the dark side of
professional sports.
To
that end, Human Sports Performance has dedicated over $1 million
dollars in 2009 to fund research in the field of Human Maximum
Sports Performance, including breakthrough research on the
effects of Cortisol on the elite athlete.
Cortisol
is a corticosteroid hormone that has been proven to reduce
sports performance, and represents a major area of research
in sports science.
Over-expression
and over-elevation of Cortisol in humans is triggered by a
variety of external biochemical events resulting in mild-to-serious
medical problems, including chronic and acute stress.
Currently,
elevation of Cortisol is a major issue in athletes, whose
stress levels are at an all-time high.
Athletes,
in particular, over-produce Cortisol in response to training,
competition, emotional and physical stress, peer-pressure,
and from consuming the wrong forms of protein.
One
major concern for athletes of all ages and levels, is stimulation
of Cortisol triggered by ingesting protein bars, drinks, and
supplements. Protein supplements over-elevate Cortisol because
they instigate ketogenesis.
This
physiological reaction is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
(HPA) axis, and results in negative skeletal muscle feedback
and muscle wasting.
Ingesting
Cortisol-stimulating foods, beverages
and protein drinks can cause: |
| • |
Decline and suppression
of immune function |
| • |
Infertility |
| • |
Increased blood
pressure |
| • |
Increased blood
sugar levels |
| • |
Negative skeletal
muscle feedback |
Prolonged
Cortisol secretion results in: |
| • |
Muscle wastage |
| • |
Weight gain |
| • |
Hypoglycemia |
| • |
Inflammatory responses |
| • |
Immune suppression |
| • |
Damage to cells
in the hippocampus |
| • |
Impaired learning |
Due to the huge negative impact that Cortisol exerts on athletes,
Human Sports Performance™ has provided research grants for
2009-2010 focusing on the relationship between Cortisol and
sports performance.
|
