The NY Times reports on a new study pinpointing a counteractive effect antioxidants may have on the body’s natural defenses to oxidative damage, specifically among those who exercise for health.
The reason, they suggest, is that the reactive oxygen compounds, inevitable byproducts of exercise, are a natural trigger for both of these responses. The vitamins, by efficiently destroying the reactive oxygen, short-circuit the body’s natural response to exercise.
“If you exercise to promote health, you shouldn’t take large amounts of antioxidants,” Dr. Ristow said. A second message of the study, he said, “is that antioxidants in general cause certain effects that inhibit otherwise positive effects of exercise, dieting and other interventions.” The findings appear in this week’s issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The effect of vitamins on exercise and glucose metabolism “is really quite significant,” said Dr. C. Ronald Kahn of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, a co-author of the report. “If people are trying to exercise, this is blocking the effects of insulin on the metabolic response.”
So I guess I should cut back on my daily green tea consumption. Ugh. Just as Andrew Shao of the Council for Responsible Nutrition says, this is only one study but I'm certain I've heard similar claims before and will be following up on this as I learn more about it.
2 comments:
On another topic, I need some suggestions for colorful perennials that can withstand the full sun of the deep South. Any ideas? Thanks.
I shall look into this for you, Big Deb. :-)
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