Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Free radicals are a byproduct of normal cell function. When cells create energy, they also produce unstable oxygen molecules. These molecules, called free radicals, have a free electron. This electron makes the molecule highly unstable. The free radical bonds to other molecules in the body – causing proteins and other essential molecules to not function as they should.
Weight Training, Exercise and Antioxidants
In sports medicine studies, it’s been shown that vigorous exercise produces free radicals because energy systems and metabolism are ramped up during exercise. Biological processes require chemical reactions that result in free radical release. While a natural process, for athletes and other active people, they exercise more and as such are faced with more potential cellular damage and diseases that result from free radical exposure.
It was once postulated that the body can adapt to the onslaught of exercise-induced free radicals by increasing the body’s internal, natural antioxidant defense systems — including certain enzymes — perhaps even to a level greater than in non-exercisers.
In other words, some thought the body could adjust to the oxidative stress of exercise and likely needed no assistance from antioxidants. While this may be true to a degree, which such an adaptive response might even be a cornerstone of the health effects of exercise–athletes suffer damage from free radicals.
Because of this, antioxidant supplements are invaluable.
There are various dietary supplements that provide antioxidant support to the body, and depending on how much support is actually needed, people may choose the best nac supplement or any other supplement that suits their body type.
Antioxidant supplements are considered useful to stem the possible damage that exercise-induced free radicals might do to muscle and other tissues — perhaps even to prevent sore muscles in the days following exercise. Antioxidants are present in our systems naturally, but when free radicals outweigh antioxidants— damage ensues. As such, boosting the number in your antioxidant army can help you win the battle against free radical damage.
In addition to increasing your infantry, benefits to immunity and general dietary compliance have been posed by the scientific community.
Protect Your Cells with Antioxidants
Whether through exercise or environmental exposure, your body is fighting the radicals. Win the fight with antioxidant supplements. Start today.