Golden root supplement may give athletes a small edge in strength and focus

This study looked at whether taking Rhodiola rosea (golden root) for 7 days can improve strength, endurance, and mental focus in healthy adults who already do resistance training. Twenty-seven men and women each tried a low dose, a high dose, a placebo, and a no-capsule control period. On the last day of each week, they did bench press, leg press, a cycling test, and a word-color test to measure performance and thinking. The goal was to see if the herb gives a small but real boost compared to placebo.