A Quick Lesson in Antioxidants for Swimmers
A Quick Lesson in Antioxidants for Swimmers
By Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RDN, CSSD
A young swimmer emailed me and wanted to know if antioxidants would help her swim better and recover faster. A great question, so here is a primer on antioxidants, with tips to help you choose antioxidant-rich foods.
When you exercise, you take in more oxygen by deep breathing and then you deliver that oxygen in your blood to working muscles.
As your muscles work, they generate power for sport but also generate molecules called free radicals. These molecules are very unstable and they can “oxidize” leading to muscle fatigue.
Oxidation is a normal process, and you see examples of it around you all the time. A car rusting is oxidation and an apple or avocado slice that turns brown is oxidation. To prevent oxidation, you need an antioxidant. That is why dipping apple slices in orange juice or squirting lemon juice on avocado when making guacamole prevents browning (the result of oxidation).
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When you exercise, you take in more oxygen by deep breathing and then you deliver that oxygen in your blood to working muscles.
As your muscles work, they generate power for sport but also generate molecules called free radicals. These molecules are very unstable and they can “oxidize” leading to muscle fatigue.
Oxidation is a normal process, and you see examples of it around you all the time. A car rusting is oxidation and an apple or avocado slice that turns brown is oxidation. To prevent oxidation, you need an antioxidant. That is why dipping apple slices in orange juice or squirting lemon juice on avocado when making guacamole prevents browning (the result of oxidation).
Read more:
