Are antioxidants the anti-gym? In a new Danish study, men who took supplements of resveratrol—the powerhouse antioxidant found in red wine—saw their cardiovascular benefits from exercise shrink by 45 percent compared to guys who popped a placebo.
But don’t put down that glass of vino just yet. A closer look at the numbers reveals that the men in the study took a 250-milligram (mg) supplement of resveratrol—exponentially more than what you’d find in everyday foods and drinks. For example, red wine contains between 1 and 9 mg of resveratrol per bottle. (You’d have to knock back almost 28 bottles in one sitting to take in 250 mg. Read: not recommended.) And in general, antioxidants like resveratrol are good for exercise, since they reduce inflammation to aid recovery.
Large doses, though, give muscles too much of a free pass. Exercise generates some “bad” free radicals—which high doses of antioxidant supplements can completely suppress. While you’d think you’d want that, doing so limits your body’s ability to recover on its own, says Michael Joyner, M.D., an exercise researcher at the Mayo Clinic. You need some free radicals to “turn on” the recovery process, help your body adapt to stress, and improve performance, Joyner adds.
The bottom line: Less is often better. Stick to sources like blueberries, dark chocolate, peanuts, and red wine to reap the benefits of antioxidants. Bonus: You’ll also get other health-promoting vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients from the foods.
For a bigger breakdown, check out The Truth About Antioxidant Supplements.
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