Ben Greenfield, an exercise physiologist, explains why he stopped taking ibuprofen during endurance events. NSAIDs increase gut permeability, allowing toxins into the bloodstream, and can damage kidneys and liver. He recommends natural alternatives to manage muscle soreness instead.
Hi, I'm Ben Greenfield. I'm an exercise physiologist, a nutritionist, and I've spent the past couple of decades participating in some of the most masochistic endurance events on the face of the planet. And one of the things that I did quite frequently, particularly when I raced Ironman triathlon, is that I would pop NSAIDs like Ibuprofen or Advil, like candy. It was just common practice. You did that to alleviate soreness and to allow yourself to be able to push through the pain. But little did I know the biological firestorm that these create within the human body. Studies have shown that things occur, such as increased gut permeability, which allow toxins to pass through your delicate gut lining and wind up in your bloodstream. Studies have also shown kidney toxicity and and liver toxicity that simulate what someone would experience with septic shock when they wind up in a hospital. The fact is that there are potent natural alternatives to NSAIDs like ibuprofen, for shutting down muscle soreness and helping you to bounce back faster. You just have to know what to do. But for now, I would caution you heavily against using NSAIDs if you're currently using them. I hope this has been helpful, and thanks for watching.
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