Buzzwords: Antioxidants

You often hear people talking about how this food or that food is high in antioxidants, but how many people actually know what that means? You may know that it is a good thing and that they tend to be found in healthy, natural foods like berries, but beyond that, most people don't understand the big deal about this health buzzword, so here is a quick rundown.

As your body uses oxygen to produce energy for everyday tasks including exercise it has the effect of oxidising cells in your body, causing oxidative stress and damage. When the body is under oxidative stress it produces chemically reactive molecules called 'free radicals' that cause damage to otherwise healthy cells as well as being linked with chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease. It has also been shown that exposure to air pollution 9running in a city for example) will cause increased free radical production. As the name would suggest, antioxidants are effectively the antidote to these free radicals , preventing and repairing the damage that they do, therefore protecting you from disease, and aiding in recovery post-exercise. It is therefore crucial to include adequate antioxidants in your diet to deal with free radical production, especially when training hard.

Some antioxidants that can be found in your diet:

Vitamins A, C, and E

Selenium

Polyphenols

Lutein

Lycopene

Sources of antioxidants:

Berries, especially blueberries.

Fresh fruit

Dark green leafy veg

Nuts

The bottom line is that a balanced paleo diet, rich in vegetables with some fruit and berries is a healthy way to live long term and will support your antioxidant needs without further supplementation.

Stay Strong

Ben