Can a 50-year-old perform like a 19-year-old with hydrogen?

Triathlete and former Tour de France rider Bekim Christensen has turned 50 and has been measured to perform just as well as when he was 19. It immediately sounds completely crazy and totally impossible, but that is exactly what Bekim has achieved by using hydrogen every day.

Performance is directly related to recovery, and most people who practice sports at a level slightly above the couch level have experienced how performance suffers if recovery is not optimal. It is worst for those who train many hours and days every week. Their bodies simply cannot keep up.

For most people, the older you get, the less you can perform, and the more time the body needs to recover. Despite this, Bekim has managed to go the opposite way. Today, he performs so well as a triathlete that he has been selected for the World Championship in Hawaii, making him one of the world's oldest triathletes at the highest level.

How can he perform at such a high level as a 50-year-old? He uses hydrogen therapy daily, which cleanses and optimizes all the cells in his body, and it is so effective that today he has been measured to perform just as well as when he was 19 years old.

Hydrogen therapy is revolutionary, completely unique, and at the same time one of the easiest forms of therapy. Briefly put, you inhale hydrogen through the nose, in the same way as when you receive oxygen.

Hydrogen is the world's smallest antioxidant - 88 times smaller than vitamin C and 400 times smaller than oxygen. Hydrogen is such a small antioxidant that it can penetrate anywhere in the body. It can move all the way into the cells' mitochondria (the cells' powerhouse) and dissolve the inappropriate inflammation, while leaving the important muscle-building inflammation unaffected. In other words, hydrogen removes the unwanted inflammation so that the cells' powerhouse functions optimally.

Fortunately, it is not only Bekim who can feel the difference. In Denmark, athletes are increasingly using hydrogen to optimize and maximize their training, performance, and recovery. Will you be one of them?

Bekim Christensen. Triathlete and former Tour de France rider.

Niklas Hornshøj. Triathlete.

Anders Bruun. Chief of Health at Kolding IF.

Jonas Tidemand. Professional handball player at Kolding IF.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION

Hydrogen is one of the most promising technologies within health and wellness. It is used therapeutically in the form of hydrogen-rich water or as inhalation, where it functions as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. To understand its effectiveness, it is important to take a closer look at how hydrogen interacts with the body's biochemistry and the reactive compounds found in our system.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemical compounds containing oxygen, such as superoxide radicals (O₂⁻), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). These compounds are formed as a byproduct of metabolic processes, especially in the mitochondria during respiration.

• Biological Role: ROS are involved in important processes such as cell differentiation, signalling, and immune response. They play an essential role in the body's defense against infections.
• Damage: If ROS are formed in excess, they can cause oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA, which can lead to cell damage and diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS)
Similarly, there are reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which include nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻), and other nitrogen-based radicals.

• Biological Role: RNS play an important role in signalling within the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and neurobiology. They contribute to the regulation of various biological processes.
• Damage: As with ROS, RNS can cause damage to cells and tissues, but they often function as signalling molecules, making them essential for maintaining health.

In summary, the difference between ROS and RNS is primarily based on the elements they contain (oxygen vs. nitrogen) as well as their specific roles in biological systems. Both types of compounds are important, but their imbalances can lead to health problems.

The Benefits of Hydrogen in Therapy
Hydrogen therapy uses molecular hydrogen, which functions as an effective antioxidant, thereby reducing the number of free radicals and decreasing inflammation. Additionally, hydrogen can play a significant role in sports injuries and muscle soreness, including delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which occurs 24 to 72 hours after physical activity.

• Injuries: Hydrogen can help accelerate the healing process by reducing inflammation and oxidative damage, which can improve recovery after sports injuries.
• ATP Production: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy source for cells, used in many biochemical processes, including muscle contraction. Hydrogen has a positive influence on ATP levels by reducing oxidative stress, thereby supporting energy production.

Digestion and Antioxidants
A comparison between the antioxidants from vitamin C and hydrogen shows that while vitamin C functions as a broad antioxidant, hydrogen is more selective. It specifically targets harmful free radicals without affecting other naturally occurring compounds that can be beneficial to the body.

Antioxidants and Muscle Building
In the sports world, it is often discussed that it can be an advantage to limit the intake of antioxidants during the muscle-building phase, as certain antioxidants can potentially inhibit the signals necessary for muscle growth. However, because hydrogen is selective, the use of hydrogen as an antioxidant will have a different influence on this phenomenon due to its selective methods of action.