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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <hsiresearch

HSI e-Alert - Secret Protector

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 06:50:00 -0500

 

 

 

 

HSI e-Alert - Secret Protector

 

 

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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February 09, 2006

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

I just came across a study that shows how polyphenols may help reduce

oxidative stress caused by exercise.

 

Good to know!

 

But in an accompanying NutraIngredients article about the study,

there's a comment buried almost at the very end that reveals a little

nugget of wisdom for anyone who exercises.

 

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Sportsman's workout

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Polyphenols are plant chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their

color. They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and

they're absolutely necessary in helping cells do their work. In short:

good stuff.

 

This new study comes from San Antonio Catholic University (SACU) in

Spain. Researchers tested the effects of a sports drink that contained

flavonoids (plant compounds that are the most abundant polyphenols) on

a group of 30 " sportsmen " who participated in aerobic exercise.

Several different oxidative stress biomarkers were measured before the

exercise period, immediately after, and again 45 minutes later. During

exercise, half the group consumed the sports drink (containing

raspberry, black grape and red current concentrates), and half

received a placebo drink.

 

Results showed that protein oxidation was reduced by 23 percent in the

sports drink group, but increased by 12 percent in the placebo group.

 

If all the subjects in the SACU trial continue to consume plenty of

flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables, they may do much more than

reduce oxidation after exercise. In a study from Finland that examined

dietary and medical records on more than 10,000 subjects for nearly 30

years, researchers found that subjects who consumed more

flavonoid-rich foods were less likely to suffer from a number of

chronic diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, stroke,

asthma, and type II diabetes. Furthermore, those who ate foods that

provided a variety of different types of flavonoids enjoyed greater

longevity.

 

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Just do it...easily

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Now...back to that article about the SACU study.

 

As interesting as I found the results of the study to be, even more

interesting was this quote from the article: " Exercise induced

oxidative stress is only seen after high intensity or long duration

exercise. A 1987 study from the University of Alberta showed that

moderate exercise did not affect oxidative stress, and that low

intensity exercise actually protected against it. "

 

Chalk up another benefit for easygoing exercise.

 

Longtime e-Alert readers know that you don't have to push yourself to

the max or feel the burn to get great benefits from exercise. For

instance, in a study I told you about last year, University of

Colorado researchers found that walking a mile at a leisurely pace

burned more calories than walking at a faster but normal pace. Slower

walking also significantly reduced knee joint load - an important

factor for obese and overweight exercisers.

 

Strenuous exercise, on the other hand, may actually do more harm than

good. In a Real Health Breakthroughs article titled " Run for your life

- away from strenuous exercise, " William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.,

cited several studies that back up this surprising claim: " A

compelling argument can be made that overexercising can cause

atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. "

 

According to Dr. Douglass, the leading cause of exercise-related

deaths, even in well-trained athletes, is coronary heart disease. In

one of the studies examined in his article, ten cases of sudden death

among marathon runners were reviewed. " Nine of the 10 died of heart

attacks secondary to severe coronary heart disease. The researchers'

conclusion: Severe coronary atherosclerosis is the most common cause

of death in marathon runners. "

 

 

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....and another thing

 

Colorectal cancer prevention alert!

 

Two months ago I told you about a study in which colorectal polyp risk

was compared to intake of dietary vitamins and beta-carotene ( " Five

Guardians " 12/5/05). Nutrient intakes were assessed in two groups:

more than 360 subjects with polyps, and about 425 polyp-free subjects.

Researchers found five nutrients that were associated with a lower

risk of colorectal polyps: folate, beta-carotene, and vitamins B-6, C

and D.

 

Now we already have confirmation of that study - or at least regarding

two of the five nutrients.

 

In a study led by researchers at Harvard and Boston's Brigham and

Women's Hospital, dietary habits and medical records for nearly 38,000

female subjects over the age of 45 were followed for an average of ten

years. Researchers found a significant association between dietary

intake of folate and vitamin B6 and a reduced risk of colorectal cancer.

 

Dietary sources of folate include citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy green

vegetables, avocados, bananas, asparagus, whole grains, and pinto,

navy and kidney beans.

 

Vitamin B6 is found in meat, poultry fish, beans, fruits and

vegetables. Bananas and chicken breast are particularly high in B6.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

 

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Sources:

" Effects of Polyphenolic Antioxidants on Exercise-Induced Oxidative

Stress " Clinical Nutrition, published on-line 1/19/06,

sciencedirect.com " Flavonoids Reduce Exercise-Induced Oxidative

Stress " NutraIngredients, 1/30/06, nutraingredients.com " Walk Slowly

for Weight Loss, According to University of Colorado Study " University

of Colorado press release, 6/15/05, eurekalert.org " Run for your life

- away from strenuous exercise! " William Campbell Douglass, M.D., Real

Health Breakthroughs, December 2001, realhealthnews.com " Folate,

Vitamin B6, Multivitamin Supplements, and Colorectal Cancer Risk in

Women " American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 163, No. 2, February

2006, aje.oxfordjournals.org

 

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