Thursday, November 12, 2009

Training: Protect Your Mitochondria...

It’s a fact: Although training gets you huge, it does so by inflicting stress and damage on your muscles. But what’s good for your muscles may be bad for your DNA. That can be bad news for your recovery and growth, both now and in the future.

Researchers in São Paulo, Brazil, wanted to see how taking a supplement mixture of vitamins C and E before exercise might affect DNA and mitochondrial health. They measured antioxidant capacity and the healthy appearance of muscle cell mitochondria.

Those who took the supplement mixture before exercise increased their antioxidant capacity by an astonishing 53 percent, and their muscle cell mitochondria were healthier than those who didn’t use the supplement mixture.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: This is the latest of a series of studies that show that using antioxidants helps increase overall antioxidant capacity, and that this translates into solid muscle and rapid recovery. So get with the times! If you thought that antioxidants were just for after your workout, think again! Take 500 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E with a glass of water one hour before your workout. Repeat after your workout for best results. You’ll not only save your DNA and mitochondria but also gain more muscle!

www.fusionbodybuilding.com

Source: Rosa EF, Ribeiro RF, Pereira FM, Freymüller E, Aboulafia J, Nouailhetas VL. Vitamin C and E supplementation prevents mitochondrial damage of ileum myocytes caused by intense and exhaustive exercise training. J Appl Physiol. 2009 Aug 20. [Epub ahead of print]

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