Did you know that the global dietary supplement market is worth more than $150 billion? One kind of supplement that’s been growing in popularity lately is deer antler velvet.
Deer antler velvet is the tissue that covers the cartilage and bone that turns into antlers. The substance has been used for hundreds of years as a natural medicine and as a way to improve athletic performance.
In fact, deer antler velvet contains the compound IGF-1, which is banned in the NFL and MLB because it can boost growth hormones.
Clearly, deer antler velvet is powerful stuff. But what is it, how does it work, and what benefits can it bring?
Keep on reading to learn more!
What Is Deer Antler Velvet?
Deer antler velvet is the soft fuzz that covers male deer antlers before they are fully grown. New Zealand is one of the major exporters of deer antler velvet and they are a main supplier for the United States and Asia.
Most of the deer used for these supplements are elk, red deer, and hybrids of the two.
Before the velvet is removed from a deer’s antlers, a farmer or veterinarian will give the deer a local anesthetic. Deer are not killed in order to obtain antler velvet.
Deer antler velvet is prized for IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1).
Growth hormones are naturally produced by the liver and the brain. These hormones regulate how the body grows.
What Does Deer Antler Velvet Do?
Many people believe that IGF-1 is useful at healing tendon and cartilage injuries. It can be very effective at improving damage to the cartilage in joints because of repetitive trauma.
With that said, there is still a lot of research needed to be done on deer antler velvet. Supplements containing the substance are not regulated by the FDA.
Because of this, it’s very important that you get deer antler velvet from a reputable and trustworthy source.
How Does Deer Antler Velvet Actually Work?
IGF-1 is so popular because it manipulates how the body repairs itself. The hormone helps with up a base or matrix that’s necessary for cells to grow. It’s basically building blocks made out of protein.
The compound then increases the number of new cells that build on the base. This leads to faster and more effective muscle repair. That means that you can workout harder and more often, effectively boosting your strength and athletic performance.
Health Benefits
Ancient traditions have used antler velvet as a natural medicine. People will use it to reduce swelling, boost stamina, and improve one’s immune system. It is also taken to make bones stronger and promote wound healing.
It is said to have restorative effects and some users will take it to boost fertility and as an aphrodisiac.
Thanks to its ability to heal cartilage damage, some people use it to treat osteoarthritis. It might even be able to boost circulation, improve mood, and stop tumor growth.
Osteoarthritis is usually treated with chondroitin sulfate thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Deer antler velvet also contains a high concentration of chondroitin sulfate. It also contains a significant amount of glucosamine sulfate.
Both of these compounds are known to inhibit the reduction of cartilage and bone density.
Scientists are also looking into how to treat rheumatoid arthritis with deer antler velvet.
How to Take Deer Antler Velvet
Deer antler velvet is almost exclusively consumed as a powder in capsule form. If you want to fight general fatigue then you should take between one and two capsules each day.
A capsule tends to contain around three hundred milligrams of the substance. If you are treating more serious conditions like arthritis then you should speak to your doctor about taking stronger doses.
You won’t notice the effects of deer antler velvet immediately. They accumulate over time. You’ll usually need to wait between two and three months before you start to notice significant effects.
The Importance of Researching Antler Velvet
Many people believe that deer grow their antlers when they are young and have those antlers for the rest of their life. However, this isn’t true. Animals with horns, however, do keep the same set for their whole lives.
All male animals of the deer family, including caribou (reindeer), moose, and elk, grow a new set of antlers every year. They have the antlers for a few months and then shed them after mating season before starting all over again. It’s a painful and dangerous process and the deer risk harming their skulls.
The fact that these animals are able to grow such big appendages every year has captured the attention of doctors and scientists. Stags use stem cells on their skulls to grow new cartilage and skin cells.
This kind of regeneration is extremely rare in the animal kingdom. By understanding the process, scientists might be able to help humans regenerate appendages too.
Start Using Deer Antler Velvet Today
As we can see, deer antler velvet can be a powerful and effective supplement for athletes and people with cartilage issues. If you’re looking for a natural and alternative dietary supplement then this could be just what you’re looking for.
Make sure to talk with your doctor and see if deer antler velvet could be beneficial for your situation.
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