What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are substances that decrease free radical damage to our cells. What are free radicals you ask and why should you care? Free radicals are chemically charged atoms or molecule fragments with an excess of electrons.
Why is that important? Free radicals release these electrons to become more stable and this process can damage larger molecules. The most important free radical to athletes is ROS, or Reactive Oxygen Species. They are responsible for destabilizing muscle tissue. In short, they degrade muscle proteins to the point that cell death is the end result. Antioxidants help prevent this from happening on a larger scale.
Antioxidants can be broken down into the following categories:
Carotenoids – plant-based antioxidants using plants own protective mechanisms to add to our own. Out of the hundreds known to exist, the most potent are:
• Alpha-Carotene
• Beta-Carotene
• Cryptoxanthin
• Lycopene
• Lutein
• Zeaxanthin
Flavonoids – phytochemicals coming from veggies and fruit. Some plants have 50% more antioxidant activity than Vitamins C & E. The flavonoid in red grapes is more than 1000 times more powerful than Vitamin E! Some examples are: Catechins, Resveratrol, and Proanthocyanidins.
Isoflavones – are found in certain legumes and are converted into phytoestrogen compounds that MAY have some cancer fighting properties.
Vitamins and Minerals – vitamins A, C and & E, are strong antioxidants. Also included are Selenium and Zinc which are powerful antioxidants.
Allium Vegetables – this group of veggies, includes garlic, onions, shallots and leeks. They are known for their cancer fighting properties, heart attack and stroke prevention, cholesterol lowering effects, and blood clot prevention.
Cruciferous Vegetables – these veggies (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage etc.) are rich in Vitamin C and some other flavonoids. They also contain substances called indoles and sulforaphane. Indoles inactivate estrogens that promote the growth of tumors. Sulfuraphane also has cancer fighting properties.
Enzymes – Coenzyme -Q10, also known as Ubiquinone, is a unique enzyme. It provides our cells with the energy they need to carry out their functions. We produce fewer as we age and stress, infections, and bad eating habits also lower production levels. It has a hand in just about every metabolic process in our bodies and replacing it is of the utmost importance.
Unique Antioxidants – Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that provides multiple benefits including: cell protection, liver cancer prevention, boosting the immune system, heavy metal/drugs detox support, reversing the negative side effects of smoking and alcohol abuse. Its greatest sources are fruits and vegetables, but try not to cook these foods because it reduces its potency. Lipoic Acid, also known as the universal antioxidant, enhances the potency of every other antioxidant in the body. It has been known to help reverse some of the effects of stroke and helps stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetics.
Anti-oxidants and Muscle Recovery There has been some speculation on the effects of antioxidants and muscle tissue recovery.
1. There is some evidence that oxygen radicals play a role in cellular damage produced by strenuous training. Antioxidants help limit that damage and increase muscular recovery. They help reduce swelling and inflammation produced in response to the damage strenuous exercise bouts cause and they help remove waste from said muscles and increase muscle function. Alpha Lipoic Acid assumes these roles.
2. Athletes, by and large, consume significantly larger amounts of oxygen through their mitochondria than sedentary folks (by as much as 20-fold!) Thus, the free radical production is also as powerful. Antioxidants have been proven to lower the production and the damage inflicted once produced.
3. Antioxidants also minimize collateral damage to surrounding tissues as well. Free radicals tend to have a PAC MAN effect and “eat” or damage all surrounding healthy tissue. Antioxidants tend to minimize the collective damage all around.
Think you can skip fruits and veggies or that vitamin/mineral pack? Think again…
Team Mammoth
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