The power of antioxidants in the athlete's diet

Playing sports can cause free radical overload, which are molecules that are produced in our body due to the biological reactions that occur in cells.

This way, an excess of free radicals can negatively affect the health of the athlete since can affect your performance or cause excessive muscle load.

How an athlete can avoid free radical overload?

The solution is in the antioxidants in foods, like fruits and vegetables. These contribute protection of the cardiovascular system, in addition to carrying different vitamins such as C and E. 

Vitamin C is a way of incorporating antioxidants to protect cells against damage caused by free radicals. This vitamin is present in many vegetables and fruits such as the citrus family, peppers, tomato or tropical fruits like pineapple or mango.

Vitamin E is present in vegetable oils or in cereals. Its function is also the protection of cells.

Beta carotene acts as an antioxidant and helps the body producing vitamin A. What vitamin A does above all is to intervene in the anti-inammatory process and slow down aging. The main foods with beta carotene are carrot, pumpkin, peach or cherries.

Other antioxidants are selenium, that we can find in meat and fish mainly or the zinc that promotes cell renewal and strengthens defenses. Foods rich in zinc can be eggs or legumes.

If you eat a fruit-based Mediterranean diet, vegetable, cereals, sh and meat, surely you will not need vitamin supplements, Unless prescribed by your GP. Take the opportunity to do sports and always complement it with a healthy and balanced diet!