sports-nutrition
Sports nutrition is the scientific study of how diet and nutrient intake support athletic performance, focusing on carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Many of these key nutrients are derived directly from plants, making plant science central to understanding how crop composition, phytonutrient profiles, and plant-based foods can be optimized to meet the demands of athletes. Research at this intersection drives interest in breeding and cultivating plants with enhanced nutritional properties relevant to human performance and recovery.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-01
Tiny vesicles naturally shed by plants — carrying proteins, fats, and small RNA molecules — may help the human body recover from hard exercise by reducing inflammation, repairing muscle tissue, and improving sleep quality, according to a new review of emerging research.
Plant-derived nanovesicles carry lipids, proteins, small RNAs, and plant-specific metabolites capable of interacting with human inflammatory and cellular repair pathways.
PELNs appear to simultaneously target both neuroendocrine sleep-regulation pathways and skeletal muscle repair mechanisms, potentially bridging what researchers call the 'sleep-muscle recovery axis.'
PELNs influence circadian rhythm signaling, mitochondrial dynamics, and redox (antioxidant) homeostasis, representing a multi-target strategy that distinguishes them from conventional single-pathway recovery interventions.