Antioxidants and Minerals and Their Role in Bodybuilding
The bodybuilding fraternity has woken up to the realization that antioxidants and minerals are indeed helpful in fostering the positive development of the body and in many ways complementing the bodybuilding effort. Antioxidants have disease-fighting properties. They include vitamins C and E, minerals like selenium, manganese, zinc and copper. As a result of the abilities that they possess they must be included in the diet of any focused bodybuilder.
The antioxidants act by fighting the free radicals. Free radicals are actually types of chemicals that are produced in the body. These chemicals are responsible for causing permanent damage to the body cells. The presence of free radicals makes the body susceptible to various diseases including cancer, cardiovascular complications, and the effects of adverse aging and also diseases that have degenerative effects. The origin of free radicals is still unknown, but studies have revealed that the incidence of these chemicals is brought about by some factors including exposure to extreme sunlight, radiation, stress, cigarette smoke and certain drugs.
Incidentally it is worth noting that continuous and regular exercise and also weightlifting serve to increase the number of free radicals in the body. The reason for this is still undetermined. What is much more important is the realization of the various means you can use to ward off these chemicals. One sure way is to increase the number of antioxidants in the diet. The first antioxidant that you can consider is Vitamin C.
This vitamin helps in the development of connective tissues. It is crucial in maintaining immunity, the fast healing of wounds and regulating the body response to allergies. Its antioxidant properties prevent the free radicals from breaching the walls of outer cells. Vitamin E is also another antioxidant that serves in preventing muscle damage and any ensuing problems that may be caused by free radicals. It serves to destroy the free radicals that are formed as a result of weightlifting therefore preempting possible muscle damage. This vitamin also prevents the destruction of red blood cells thus ensuring that all parts of the body are continually supplied with oxygen in the course of exercise.
Minerals in addition to vitamins are crucial in the sustained development, growth and repair of the body tissues. They facilitate the transport of oxygen to the cells; they facilitate proper digestion, and they also help in homeostasis. Minerals also play an important role in maintaining a proper function of both the nervous and muscular systems.
As you examine the body tissues you will observe that there are fluids both in the cells and in between cells. These fluids contain electrolytes i.e., charged ions or minerals. These electrolytes or charged minerals help in maintaining the water balance on both sides of the cell walls. They also facilitate the contraction of the muscles. The most important electrolytes are potassium and sodium. The former helps regulate fluids inside the cells while the latter does the same outside the cell membranes. For an optimal balance of these processes the electrolytes must be balanced always.
Dane Fletcher is THE Training Authority - Originally from London, he has trained in gyms all over the world and has picked up knowledge all along the way from some of the industry's most recognized personas
Source
The bodybuilding fraternity has woken up to the realization that antioxidants and minerals are indeed helpful in fostering the positive development of the body and in many ways complementing the bodybuilding effort. Antioxidants have disease-fighting properties. They include vitamins C and E, minerals like selenium, manganese, zinc and copper. As a result of the abilities that they possess they must be included in the diet of any focused bodybuilder.
The antioxidants act by fighting the free radicals. Free radicals are actually types of chemicals that are produced in the body. These chemicals are responsible for causing permanent damage to the body cells. The presence of free radicals makes the body susceptible to various diseases including cancer, cardiovascular complications, and the effects of adverse aging and also diseases that have degenerative effects. The origin of free radicals is still unknown, but studies have revealed that the incidence of these chemicals is brought about by some factors including exposure to extreme sunlight, radiation, stress, cigarette smoke and certain drugs.
Incidentally it is worth noting that continuous and regular exercise and also weightlifting serve to increase the number of free radicals in the body. The reason for this is still undetermined. What is much more important is the realization of the various means you can use to ward off these chemicals. One sure way is to increase the number of antioxidants in the diet. The first antioxidant that you can consider is Vitamin C.
This vitamin helps in the development of connective tissues. It is crucial in maintaining immunity, the fast healing of wounds and regulating the body response to allergies. Its antioxidant properties prevent the free radicals from breaching the walls of outer cells. Vitamin E is also another antioxidant that serves in preventing muscle damage and any ensuing problems that may be caused by free radicals. It serves to destroy the free radicals that are formed as a result of weightlifting therefore preempting possible muscle damage. This vitamin also prevents the destruction of red blood cells thus ensuring that all parts of the body are continually supplied with oxygen in the course of exercise.
Minerals in addition to vitamins are crucial in the sustained development, growth and repair of the body tissues. They facilitate the transport of oxygen to the cells; they facilitate proper digestion, and they also help in homeostasis. Minerals also play an important role in maintaining a proper function of both the nervous and muscular systems.
As you examine the body tissues you will observe that there are fluids both in the cells and in between cells. These fluids contain electrolytes i.e., charged ions or minerals. These electrolytes or charged minerals help in maintaining the water balance on both sides of the cell walls. They also facilitate the contraction of the muscles. The most important electrolytes are potassium and sodium. The former helps regulate fluids inside the cells while the latter does the same outside the cell membranes. For an optimal balance of these processes the electrolytes must be balanced always.
Dane Fletcher is THE Training Authority - Originally from London, he has trained in gyms all over the world and has picked up knowledge all along the way from some of the industry's most recognized personas
Source
