Thursday, 14 May 2009
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Vitamins May Limit the Health Benefit of Exercise
If you exercise regularly, you may want to think twice about taking antioxidants like vitamins C and E. A new study published on Monday surprisingly found that consuming antioxidants could actually reverse the beneficial effects of exercise.
Physical exercise has lots of health benefits, including on the body’s resistance to insulin. On the other hand, exercise also leads to the formation of free radicals, a form of very active oxygen molecules which can chemically attack the body.
To combat this, people have long turned to antioxidant supplements which are thought to improve health and longevity. However, the new study suggests that antioxidants like vitamin C and E supplements may actually be harmful, at least in regards to diabetes risk and glucose metabolism.
According to this study, performed by researchers in Germany and Boston, these vitamins short-circuit the body’s natural response to free radicals. Dr. Michael Ristow, lead-author of the study says that “short-term doses of free radicals may act like a vaccine, helping the body to defend itself from chronic stressors more efficiently by inducing a long-term adaptive response”.
While the study is by no means conclusive, experts agree that it was well designed and should give people pause before popping antioxidant supplements if they exercise.
Do you take antioxidant supplements or do you get them from fresh ingredients?
This is a guest blog from JustAguyThing. Check out their site for more health posts.
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Comments (10)
I heard about this study from Discovery Health a few days ago. Interesting stuff.
I take some vitamins, but that's usually in the morning, and I dont work out until later on in the day. Only thing I eat after a workout is lots of protein and maybe some fresh fruits and veggies.
interesting. i don't take vitamins but my brother does. i should bring this up to him
Ugh.
Aw. Guess that means I won't be exercising.
I'm currently taking Vitamin E supplements for my skin. I don't really work out anyway, as I already get 40 minutes to an hour of walking in my daily commute, walking from my dorm to the train station, and then from the station to school.
Supplements
Both. But only because I'm deficient in certain vitamins (and minerals). Otherwise, I prefer to get what I need from my food alone.
I try to get these vitamins from foods rather than supplements.
This article is very misleading, especially the in the title "Vitamins" - and it's a good example of current health research being misinterpreted and misquoted, leading regular people like us to think we shouldn't take supplements if needed or exercise both. Does that REALLY make sense??
The original research was done with antioxidants supposedly, as described in this blog post earlier this week: http://news.health.com/2009/05/12/antioxidants-blunt-exercise-benefit-study-shows/
There is NO conclusive evidence of vitamins or antioxidants negatively impacting the beneficial effects of exercise. And supposedly the study was looking into the effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity.
Believe this if you want, but acting on this false data could harm your health in the long run.
B.B. Martin
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Good health begins with good information
I prefer getting vitamins from fresh ingredients.