| As you know, I am a physician. It's part of my | | | | When free radical damage is done, the body can |
| profession to keep abreast of what's happening in | | | | remove the compounds formed by its cellular |
| medical /health research. Being retired helps, | | | | repair system. However, if the body cannot |
| because doctors simply do not generally have the | | | | handle the free radicals (with antioxidants for |
| "extra time" to devote to the scientific literature. | | | | example), nor remove the compounds, then |
| But I do. And I love it. I am one of those | | | | disease can be the result. |
| individuals who really enjoys ...brace | | | | Contrary to popular opinion, free radicals do not |
| yourself...chemistry. When I'm done here, you | | | | circulate throughout the body. The half-life of |
| should be excited too, especially if you are | | | | most free radicals varies in a range of a few |
| interested in sports nutrition and antioxidants, | | | | nanoseconds to about 7 seconds duration. That |
| though not necessarily in that order. | | | | means they will react within the "neighborhood" (a |
| Sports nutrition is a vast industry with emphasis | | | | few Angstroms or microns near where the |
| on optimizing PERFORMANCE. Off hand, I can | | | | increase in free radicals occurred) ...organs, |
| think of quite a few categories involving sports | | | | connective tissue, circulatory or nerve tissue, |
| nutrition: | | | | bone or lymphatic material are all candidates for |
| * sports nutrition and supplements for athletes, | | | | free radical attack. |
| * sports nutrition and athletic performance, | | | | Wherever they form, they will damage the |
| * sports nutrition and body building, | | | | surrounding areas, unless prevented by the |
| * sports nutrition and endurance training, | | | | body...So the body does NOT have the luxury of |
| * sports nutrition and special diets in a variety of | | | | just filtering away any circulatory fluids to find the |
| sports, | | | | free radicals. The body's defense systems must |
| * sports nutrition and strength training, | | | | be...well...fairly omnipresent to neutralize the effects |
| * sports nutrition for running, jogging, walking, | | | | of free radicals. The antioxidant protective |
| skiing, swimming | | | | system must be healthy. |
| * There's even Rocky Mountain sports nutrition | | | | Since they are highly reactive substances, they |
| * ...the list is endless. | | | | react with all sorts of cell elements readily. But, |
| So far, no surprises, huh? Well, here's one for you. | | | | when they do react with your body cells, they |
| Did you know that when you exercise intensively | | | | can damage the cells and even kill them. Often, |
| you INCREASE the free radical burden in your | | | | the damage from free radicals can CHANGE the |
| body? If you're a serious sports enthusiast, you | | | | cellular structure enough to cause DISEASE such |
| should know that. | | | | as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and a |
| But...the real news is what science is now finding | | | | host of others. |
| out about that free radical burden of yours. You | | | | The type of disease that occurs is dependent |
| should pay close attention here. | | | | upon which of the free radical defenses in the |
| Suddenly, chemistry gets real personal. | | | | body weren't functioning properly and where the |
| Everyone of us has, what may be called, our | | | | free radical attacks occur. |
| antioxidant protective capacity. That means our | | | | The body has pretty sophisticated antioxidant |
| bodies normally utilize antioxidants to protect us | | | | defense systems. But, the body CAN get |
| against the harmful impact of free radicals. | | | | overwhelmed in its antioxidant protections against |
| First of all, what are antioxidants? They are | | | | such free radicals... |
| molecular substances which offset free radical | | | | Indeed, unless antioxidant enhanced sports |
| damage to the body. Antioxidants, "quench" free | | | | nutrition (with glyconutrients) are used to offset |
| radicals (for lack of a better metaphor) | | | | the increased free radical burden, the BODY will |
| neutralizing their damaging effects on the cells of | | | | suffer as a result of intensive sports training, |
| the body. | | | | stress, and competition. |
| * Antioxidants are found in foods such as | | | | Glyconutrients VITAL to sports nutrition ... |
| cranberries, green tea and even chocolate. | | | | Studies comparing marathon runners who did and |
| * Antioxidants are found in vitamins such vitamin | | | | did not take glyconutritional sports nutrition |
| C and E. | | | | supplements were undertaken. The results were |
| * Antioxidants are found in carotenoids such as | | | | reported by the Proceedings of the Fisher |
| beta-carotene. | | | | Institute For Medical Research ( August 2003, |
| * Antioxidants are found in many substances | | | | vol.3, no.1). The results "demonstrated strikingly |
| supplied by the body such as glutathione. | | | | different patterns." Antioxidant protection |
| * Antioxidants are found in many herbs and | | | | appeared to be powerfully enhanced against free |
| enzymes. | | | | radicals with glyconutritional supplementation. Thus, |
| The impact of antioxidants is boosted by | | | | the body was protected for several days after |
| glyconutrients to offset free radicals in your | | | | the marathon run. |
| body...and, as a result of your athletic exertions. | | | | However, when glyconutritional sports nutrition |
| Antioxidant capacity must be provided in your | | | | was NOT used, the damaging effects of the free |
| sports nutrition regimen or you could be "robbing | | | | radical burden appeared to remain in the body for |
| Peter to pay Paul" with your workouts. As you | | | | about five days. Thus, the subject "consistently |
| will see, without a glyconutrional presence in your | | | | excreted higher concentrations of free radical |
| sports nutrition, the healthful gains made by your | | | | byproducts..." as compared to that of the |
| physical workouts will be offset by your own free | | | | glyconutritional subject. It should be emphasized |
| radical burden. | | | | that the subject studied WAS TAKING other |
| Free radicals, sports and sports nutrition | | | | antioxidants, though not glyconutrition. Despite |
| Free radicals are those chemical species which | | | | that fact, the above cited results were obtained. |
| contain one or more unpaired electrons, capable | | | | That's another way of saying that when |
| of independent existence. They form in the body | | | | glyconutritional supplements were not used, the |
| due to a variety of reasons as offshoots of | | | | free radical burden upon the body was not lifted. |
| cellular activity or as products introduced to the | | | | Antioxidant protection does appear to be |
| body from the outside. | | | | (significantly) strengthened with glyconutritional |
| As an analogy, think of running a car engine as | | | | sports nutrition. Such antioxidant protection |
| the cellular production and the car emissions a the | | | | appears to be of benefit for athletes overall, |
| free radical production. The engine produces | | | | including training, stress, competition and dietary |
| products which cannot stay inside the car without | | | | issues. |
| further damage. They simply must be neutralized | | | | The glyconutrional revolution in sports nutrition and |
| and expelled. | | | | therapy is just beginning. More studies are being |
| Free radicals form and cause damage by reacting | | | | done. More results are coming in concerning free |
| with many substances in your body. It is | | | | radicals and the capacity of the glyconutrients to |
| estimated that upwards of 200,000 free radical | | | | boost antioxidant affect against free radicals. |
| attacks occur in our bodies daily. | | | | |