Antioxidants, Free Radicals, and Sports Nutrition

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