Antioxidants can be great for your body on many levels. They make your skin clear, rid your body of toxins, and keep you energized. Antioxidants can be consumed in many ways. One of the best ways is through your food intake. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may boost your endurance during y0ur exercise routine. This study preformed on a group of healthy college students unveils the positive affects of antioxidants on endurance.
The 12 fit college students, who were not regular exercisers, were given quercetin supplements for 7 days, which appeared to boost exercise endurance compared with a similar 7-day period without supplements, researchers report in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
Quercetin, a compound abundant in red apples, red onions, berries, cabbages and broccoli, and green and black teas, is believed to have multiple antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and cell-energy activation properties that benefit health.
To test whether quercetin supplements benefit energy production in humans, Davis’ group enlisted 7 men and 5 women, an average of 23 years old, to participate in a crossover study. At the beginning of the study, investigators measured students’ maximum oxygen uptake and the number of minutes they could ride a stationary bike.
For 7 days, the participants followed their regular routines and diet, but drank Tang plus placebo, twice daily. For another 7-day period, the participants drank Tang containing 500 milligrams quercetin. The investigators again measured the volunteers’ maximum oxygen uptake and exercise endurance. This process was repeated after another 7-day period when volunteers drank similar tasting and colored Tang without quercetin.
Compared with days of no supplementation, the quercetin supplement periods were associated with a modest — nearly 4 percent — increase in maximum oxygen uptake. Quercetin was also associated with a 13 percent increase in “ride time” before the volunteers were too fatigued to continue.
These findings suggest quercetin “may be important in relieving fatigue that keeps (people) sedentary,” Davis commented in a university press release (source).
To preform daily activities and exercise, oxygen is necessary to keep the muscles firing and endurance levels high. Antioxidants play a key role in filtering out toxins and speeding up the rate at which your body exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide. If you have been slow, sluggish, and tired then maybe you should consider increasing the amount of anitoxidants in your diet. If you can’t seem to get it from your food then seriously consider a supplement!
Adria Ali
(CES, PES, CPT, BS)
Leave a Reply