If you’re active, you should consider taking an antioxidant. The extra strain of activity on your body, whether you’re simply going for a run, hiking, or lifting weights, increases your metabolic rate and results in the creation of reactive oxygen species, sometimes known as oxidants.
The foil to oxidants? As you might already know, the aptly named antioxidants work to help keep the body clean and working at its best.
Keep reading to learn why active people should care about oxidants and how antioxidants help to keep your body working at its best.
What Are Oxidants?
Reactive oxygen species, referred to as ROS or just oxidants, are compounds that can enter the body from the air we breathe, our food, or things like prescription drugs and even alcohol. Our bodies also create oxidants when converting nutrients to energy and when new muscle is being built. When we’re active, both the rate of energy production and reconstruction of tissue increases, which contributes to more oxidants being created.
If left unchecked, oxidants can damage the structure of cells, our DNA, and they can even slow the rate of recovery after physical activity. Thankfully, our bodies create antioxidants to help protect cells and remove oxidants from the body. However, when there are so many oxidants that the body can’t make antioxidants fast enough, the body enters a state known as oxidative stress.
You may have heard of oxidative stress, which research shows is a large contributor to health problems in aging people. So what can you do?
Potential Benefits of Antioxidants
For starters, you can eat more foods that contains antioxidants. Dark leafy greens, brightly colored peppers, and most fruit are a good sources of antioxidants. They are also found in marine life, sometimes as astaxanthin, a chemical compound that is responsible for the red color of certain types of algae, sea animals, and birds that feed on these creatures.
Astaxanthin receives a lot of praise, even being called The King of Antioxidants, for how it may potentially provide support for the following:
- Immune system
- The digestive system
- Liver health and detoxification
- The eyes
- The heart
- Recovery after physical activity
- Memory and clarity during normal aging
Along with astaxanthin, there is turmeric. This orange spice comes from the root of the turmeric plant, and contains many wonderful antioxidant compounds such as curcumin. Turmeric in any form is ideal for providing support for the body, but curcumin has specifically been researched for how it provides optimal support for the immune system, joint health, and a healthy mood.
Turmeric may be especially useful for active people, because research suggests that turmeric may provide temporary relief from occasional discomfort in joints and bodily tissue.
You can easily add more turmeric into your life by shopping the spice aisle of your local grocer, or you can take a turmeric supplement, which we’ll talk about below.
Antioxidant Supplements
Terry Naturally is a leading brand for turmeric supplements. The brand has developed many unique supplements, but they are best known for creating formulas with an enhanced version of curcumin known as BCM-95, which research suggests is up to 10 times more absorbable than similar turmeric products.
CuraMed More Powerful Than Turmeric 750 mg from Terry Naturally contains 750 mg of BCM-95 curcumin extract, making this the ideal product for antioxidant support.
For support from astaxanthin, Source Naturals offers Arctic Pure Krill Oil 500 Mg, a formula that contains essential omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin, which combined may help to provide optimal support for the development of new muscle and support for a healthy cardiovascular system.
Keeping up with your health is always important, especially when you’re more active or looking to start getting in shape. The right gear, core strength, a healthy diet, and antioxidant supplements may provide the help you need to reach your individual goals.
