Exercise can make us rusty

Working hard to stay in shape? Exercising regularly to maintain cardiovascular fitness? Pumping iron to build muscle for the summer show and tell?

 

According to food science expert Eric McEntyre, many of us are unaware that the oxidation we see in a rusted fence or a burning log is happening in our bodies right now, and is accelerated with regular exercise.

 

"Many of us know we need a nutrition plan to support our exercise and fitness efforts but not so many are aware that those tough workouts may cause us to produce free radicals - a catalyst for oxidative damage to our cells," Eric says.

 

"To reduce the destructive effects of free radicals we must supply the body with a variety of antioxidants."

 

In the latest antioxidant research, daily supplementation of vitamin E was linked to significant delayed progression of Alzheimer's disease(1) and the elimination of cancer cells.(2) Supplementation with vitamins C and E were found to slow the onset of side effects from radiation therapy,(3) while vitamin E taken with carotenoids was shown to protect the lungs.(4) Pycnogenol®, an antioxidant in pine bark and grape seed, was found to reduce sensitivity to sunburn.(5)

 

Eric McEntyre explains how antioxidants can also benefit those who train regularly.

 

"Generally, we associate free radical production with environmental pollutants, stress and poor nutrition. However, free radicals can also be caused by increased oxygen consumption. The process is called 'exercise-induced free radical generation.'

 

"Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that have an unpaired electron. This is not a stable state for the molecule so it becomes more stable by extracting electrons from the molecular structure of our body tissues. This process is called oxidation.

 

"Oxidation is damaging to our cells and may cause cell destruction. You can observe this in a rusted fence or burning log. The rust and fire are the result of the oxidative process. Although the chemical reaction is less severe, it is occurring in your body right now!

 

"Antioxidant supplementation ensures you are giving your body assistance in the battle to minimise cell damage from oxidation. Antioxidants are compounds that donate electrons to the 'electron hungry' free radicals so that they do not extract them from our body tissues. Antioxidants are plentiful in fish, milk, eggs, nuts, sweet potato, carrots, tomato, squash, spinach, citrus fruits and berries.

 

"When supplementing our nutrition to account for daily stresses and exercise induced free radicals, one must be sure to consume a synergistic blend of antioxidants because the blend will provide an increased ability to reduce cell damage due to oxidation.(6)

 

"Vitamins A (carotenes), C and E work together in an antioxidant network. For example vitamin C not only acts as an antioxidant it also reactivates spent vitamin E so that it can be reused.(7)

 

"Aussie Bodies' Life Antioxidants Vitamin Formula includes vitamins C and E along with 20mg of the six synergistic carotenes that the body uses to form vitamin A: beta-carotene, cis-betacarotene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin and xanthophyl (lutein).

 

"Life Antioxidants Herbal Formula combines grape seed, pine bark and selenium. The pine bark and grape seed contain Pycnogenol®. Pycnogenol® can recycle vitamin E and glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase is an enzyme in the bark that converts oxidising agents such as free radicals into less reactive substances.

 

"So work your body, get ready for spring and don't forget your antioxidants!"