Advil is Limiting Your Gainz

Can Advil be ruining your gainz?

Maybe.

NSAIDs inhibit COX, an enzyme needed to convert arachidonic acid into other important molecules needed for the body's natural inflammatory response.

There are two COX isoenzymes (COX-1 & COX-2), which have different roles in the body.

COX-1 has a role in maintaining GI mucosal lining, kidney function, and platelet aggregation, while COX-2 becomes induced during the inflammatory process.

The problem is, most NSAIDs aren't COX specific, and overtime can start to compile adverse reactions. This could include damaging the kidneys enough to cause high blood pressure, damaging the gut lining leading to leaky gut (highly inflammatory), or even limiting potential muscle hypertrophy.

Intense exercise causes muscle damage, which can lead to some muscle stiffness/soreness the next day. Since this stiffness isn't pleasant, some may opt to take an ibuprofen for some relief.

However, by suppressing prostaglandin production, chronic use of NSAIDs have been shown to impair satellite cell activity, thus limiting muscle hypertrophy gains, especially in more resistance trained people.

That is why it's important to directly address all facets of physique enhancement, such as proper nutrition (calories & nutrients), training volume (sets/frequency), training intensity (RIR/RPE), sleep, and overall stress load.

At the end of the day, the inflammation brought on by training is actually beneficial to the development of muscle mass.

In order to maximize potential growth, proper rest days should be taken instead of popping some Advil.