By: Marc Lobliner, IFBB Pro

The True Cost of Concussions in Sports

Concussions are one of the most devastating realities in athletics today. From youth football to the NFL, athletes are putting their brains on the line every time they play. The CDC estimates that as many as 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year in the United States. And while helmets have improved and protocols have changed, the truth is that we still haven’t solved the problem of what happens inside the brain when trauma occurs.

That’s where goBHB comes in.

Why the Brain Fails After Injury

A concussion isn’t just a “bump on the head.” It’s an energy crisis. When the brain gets hit, neurons fire uncontrollably, inflammation spikes, and glucose metabolism—the brain’s primary fuel source—tanks. The result is brain cells starving at the exact moment they need energy the most. This mismatch is a big reason why concussion symptoms linger and why repeated injuries can cause long-term damage.

The white paper we reference here makes it clear: providing an alternative energy substrate could be the key to stabilizing the injured brain. That substrate is goBHB.

How goBHB Supports Energy, Protection, and Recovery

goBHB is the pure, bioavailable form of beta-hydroxybutyrate—the same ketone body your liver produces when you’re in ketosis. Unlike glucose, goBHB can cross the blood-brain barrier easily and feed brain cells directly when traditional energy pathways are compromised.

Research has shown that ketones may help:

• Provide immediate fuel when glucose metabolism is impaired

• Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in neural tissue

• Support mitochondrial function, which is essential for recovery

• Preserve cognitive function after injury

This isn’t theory—it’s biology. And it’s why I knew, after meeting with multiple NFL teams, that goBHB would be one of the most transformative tools in concussion mitigation.

The Performance Edge: From Brain to Body

If the heart is working better, everything is better. And if the brain is fueled better, performance follows the same rule. goBHB doesn’t just supply energy—it supports cardiac output, stabilizes afterload, and improves blood flow. When your heart and brain are both firing at a higher level, you recover faster, think sharper, and perform better.

Whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, protecting your brain isn’t just about health—it’s about performance, longevity, and quality of life.

What This Means for Sports and Athlete Longevity

This isn’t just about one supplement. It’s about changing the future of athlete safety. We’re entering an era where nutrition and supplementation will play just as big a role in concussion mitigation as equipment and rule changes. Imagine a world where athletes can recover faster, reduce long-term brain damage risk, and extend their careers—all because they had access to the right fuel. That’s the promise of goBHB.

Why goBHB is the Future of Concussion Mitigation

From clinical studies on ketones and brain metabolism to the real-world urgency of protecting athletes, the evidence is stacking up. goBHB isn’t just a fat loss aid or a performance enhancer—it could be the missing link in brain protection and recovery.

Athletes deserve better protection. And goBHB is leading the way.

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Sources

 

• Concussion White Paper, Ketone Labs (2025)

• Gormsen LC, Svart M, Thomsen HH, et al. Ketone body infusion with 3-hydroxybutyrate reduces myocardial glucose uptake and increases blood flow in humans. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017.

• Nielsen R, Møller N, Gormsen LC, et al. Cardiovascular effects of treatment with the ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate in chronic heart failure patients. Circulation. 2019.

• CDC Concussion Data & Statistics