Free Radicals Damage To Bodybuilders - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

meera · 15-02-2006, 11:10 AM

What are Free Radicals
Free radicals are harmful compounds that cause damage to the tissues in our body. Free radicals are very unstable and they react with other cells to cause an abnormality. These abnormalites can potentially lead to cerain health problems such as atherosclorosis, permature ageing, arthritis and other inflammatory bower disease, colitis, lung dysfunction, pancreatitis, drug reactions, skin lesions and aging and possibly even cancer.

How do those free radicals affect those of us who bodybuild?
Free radicals are by-products of our body. They are created during times of stress which significantly includes the stress that resistance training puts on our body. Free radicals disrupt the behaviour of cells (by stealing electrons from the nucleic acids, proteins or enzymes). If such function is altered, the body cannot carry the genetic information necessary for cell fucntions, including making the proteins needed to cell maintenance and repair. If your system cannot properly produce proteins, then you will not be able to effectively repair and grow muscle tissue. That adds up to a lot wasted time in the gym!

What can rescue us from free radicals
In one word Antioxidants! These are nature's own superheroes. In scientific terms, an antioxidant can donate an electron to the cell nucleus damaged by free radicals and yet still remain stable. In short, antioxidants neutralise free radicals and thereby stops the potential chain reaction of free radicals production which can lead to cell damage. Naturally, the human body is capable to produce its own antioxidants in this war against free radicals but it cannot produce enough. Luckily, we can assist the body in producing antioxidants by eating the right kinds of foods.

Sources of antioxidants
Vitamin A: this has an impressive amount of antioxidants. It is vital in the maintenance of the skin and the mucous membranes of the body. By strengthening these two tissues, vitamin A helps prevent environmental toxins entering and attacking the body to cause free radical damage. Vitamin A also enhances the immune system by improving white blood cell function and increasing the activity of antibodies.

Beta Carotene: this is a pigment that gives vegetables their colour (ie orange in carrots etc). The body turns beta carotene into Vitamin A. Beta carotene fuels the immune system and helps it to fight off viral infections.

Vitamins B2, B3 and B6:
Vitamin B12 (Riboflavin) plays a major role in regulating and producing red blood cells (thereby helping maximise energy for working out), hormones, growth and development. Riboflavin is important to the other B vitamins because it works in conjunction with them so they can do their work.
B2 leads to higher energy at cell level but more importantly promotes better health of the immune system, respiratory and digestive system. Vitamin B3 (niacin) plays a role in the synthesis of hormones and blood cells and the release of energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Studies have even shown that this vitamin can help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Luckily it can be found in chicken, red meat, tuna and milk - some bodybuilders' favourite foods!
Vitamin B6 functions primarily as a coenzyme. This means that it is a catalyst for other enzymes needing support to accomplish their task. Neurotransmitters, proteins and red blood cells all require vitamin B6 in order to be formed. It is also required for the metabolism of foods into energy (conversion of glycogen to glucose).

Vitamin C: people who exercise need strong tendons, and Vitamin C is a key element in keeping connective tissues strong and healthy.

Vitamin E: this has gained fame as the "anti ageing" vitamin. It plays a vital part in maintaining a healthy reproductive system, increased circulation and prevention of heart disease. Vitamin E's ability to protect cell membranes from the damaging effects of free radicals should make it a part of every bodybuilder's supplement program.

Alpha lipoic acid: this is used to manufacture energy within the cell. In Germany this is prescribed for AIDS and diabetic neuropathy treatment! It has been proven to heal the nerves from free radical damage. AIDS research has shown it to help the immune system and prevent the reciprocation of the AIDS virus. This is accomplished through the antioxidant property of reducing free radical concentration in the blood.

Others: CoEnzyme Q-10, bilberry, grape seed, pine bark, ginkgo biloba, selenium, zinc, copper.

In foods: balanced diet of meats, vegetables, fruit.

Conclusion
Antioxidants are the key to eliminating the tissue damage and muscle cannibalisation effects of free radicals. Do not spend time at the gym everyday just to have that time wasted due to a lack of antioxidants.

Source:
Xavier Fox article on Antioxidants
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html
http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T76343.html
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00033176

15-02-2006, 11:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
meera CEE...mmmmmm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 300	Free Radicals Damage To Bodybuilders What are Free Radicals Free radicals are harmful compounds that cause damage to the tissues in our body. Free radicals are very unstable and they react with other cells to cause an abnormality. These abnormalites can potentially lead to cerain health problems such as atherosclorosis, permature ageing, arthritis and other inflammatory bower disease, colitis, lung dysfunction, pancreatitis, drug reactions, skin lesions and aging and possibly even cancer. How do those free radicals affect those of us who bodybuild? Free radicals are by-products of our body. They are created during times of stress which significantly includes the stress that resistance training puts on our body. Free radicals disrupt the behaviour of cells (by stealing electrons from the nucleic acids, proteins or enzymes). If such function is altered, the body cannot carry the genetic information necessary for cell fucntions, including making the proteins needed to cell maintenance and repair. If your system cannot properly produce proteins, then you will not be able to effectively repair and grow muscle tissue. That adds up to a lot wasted time in the gym! What can rescue us from free radicals In one word Antioxidants! These are nature's own superheroes. In scientific terms, an antioxidant can donate an electron to the cell nucleus damaged by free radicals and yet still remain stable. In short, antioxidants neutralise free radicals and thereby stops the potential chain reaction of free radicals production which can lead to cell damage. Naturally, the human body is capable to produce its own antioxidants in this war against free radicals but it cannot produce enough. Luckily, we can assist the body in producing antioxidants by eating the right kinds of foods. Sources of antioxidants Vitamin A: this has an impressive amount of antioxidants. It is vital in the maintenance of the skin and the mucous membranes of the body. By strengthening these two tissues, vitamin A helps prevent environmental toxins entering and attacking the body to cause free radical damage. Vitamin A also enhances the immune system by improving white blood cell function and increasing the activity of antibodies. Beta Carotene: this is a pigment that gives vegetables their colour (ie orange in carrots etc). The body turns beta carotene into Vitamin A. Beta carotene fuels the immune system and helps it to fight off viral infections. Vitamins B2, B3 and B6: Vitamin B12 (Riboflavin) plays a major role in regulating and producing red blood cells (thereby helping maximise energy for working out), hormones, growth and development. Riboflavin is important to the other B vitamins because it works in conjunction with them so they can do their work. B2 leads to higher energy at cell level but more importantly promotes better health of the immune system, respiratory and digestive system. Vitamin B3 (niacin) plays a role in the synthesis of hormones and blood cells and the release of energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Studies have even shown that this vitamin can help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Luckily it can be found in chicken, red meat, tuna and milk - some bodybuilders' favourite foods! Vitamin B6 functions primarily as a coenzyme. This means that it is a catalyst for other enzymes needing support to accomplish their task. Neurotransmitters, proteins and red blood cells all require vitamin B6 in order to be formed. It is also required for the metabolism of foods into energy (conversion of glycogen to glucose). Vitamin C: people who exercise need strong tendons, and Vitamin C is a key element in keeping connective tissues strong and healthy. Vitamin E: this has gained fame as the "anti ageing" vitamin. It plays a vital part in maintaining a healthy reproductive system, increased circulation and prevention of heart disease. Vitamin E's ability to protect cell membranes from the damaging effects of free radicals should make it a part of every bodybuilder's supplement program. Alpha lipoic acid: this is used to manufacture energy within the cell. In Germany this is prescribed for AIDS and diabetic neuropathy treatment! It has been proven to heal the nerves from free radical damage. AIDS research has shown it to help the immune system and prevent the reciprocation of the AIDS virus. This is accomplished through the antioxidant property of reducing free radical concentration in the blood. Others: CoEnzyme Q-10, bilberry, grape seed, pine bark, ginkgo biloba, selenium, zinc, copper. In foods: balanced diet of meats, vegetables, fruit. Conclusion Antioxidants are the key to eliminating the tissue damage and muscle cannibalisation effects of free radicals. Do not spend time at the gym everyday just to have that time wasted due to a lack of antioxidants. Source: Xavier Fox article on Antioxidants http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T76343.html http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00033176 __________________ Ain't noone in this world like a Bruce....