Physical exercise such as running, naturally increases the production of “reactive oxygen species” in the blood. These antioxidant absorbing species are found in your plasma and play a big part in increasing the levels of antioxidants in the blood which makes up the bodies antioxidant defence system.
A study on “The Plasma Antioxidant Capacity of Adolescent Athletes” published in October 2008 by the Institute of Sport Medicine & Prevention at the University of Potsdam, Germany (Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 53:96 – 103) examines if this natural increase in reactive oxygen species also occurs in adolescents as it does in adult athletes.
Anja Carlsohn along with Professors Mayer and Schweigert et al, measured the antioxidant capacity in a group of 189 male and female athletes averaging 16 years of age and compared those levels to a group of 30 sedentary people of the same age.
The results of this study concluded that regular exercise enhanced the antioxidant capacity in adolescent athletes independently of their dietary antioxidant intake. This activity related boost in the body’s antioxidant levels is another good reason to continue with your Sun Run training program and or be active in other sports, as an enhanced body’s defense system can shield you from a multitude of problems including cancer and heart disease.
Tilman von der Linde, RMT.
Muscles in Motion – Vancouver
