SOUP UP YOUR GAINS
The trending noodle broth’s fermented ingredients will quicken your gym progress
A bowlful of ramen can spike growth hormone and supercharge your progress
East Asian cuisine is having a moment. Its umami flavours and spices have made it the darling of food bloggers, while its reliance on fermented ingredients has won it praise in this magazine for their positive impact on digestive health. But, should you hunger for any further justification, we’re happy to oblige. New science says ramen is the pre-workout fuel.
Cook your noodles in a miso broth and serve with spicy kimchi and you’ll gorge on the neurotransmitter GABA (gammaaminobutyric acid). A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that, ingested before resistance training, GABA increased human growth hormone (HGH) production by a muscular 400%. Normally, HGH is released into the bloodstream during deep sleep, helping your body repair overnight. It builds muscle mass, melts body fat and can even slow the ageing process – which is why the synthetic variety is banned from sporting competitions.
HGH levels peak during puberty and decline steeply as you approach middle age, so men find significant gains hard to achieve after 40. That you can fire up your natural reserves with a trending lunch is not only welcome news, but the smartest choice – especially given that black market injections come with hefty health risks (including cardiac arrest). Use your noodle, gentlemen.