Alright, so everyone knows how great antioxidants are right? You see antioxidant supplements and the health benefits advertised all over the place. Fortunately, unlike the majority of “trendy” health products, this one actually has some truth behind it.

You can check out some antioxidant supplements here or if you prefer you can check out some antioxidant drinks. Much better than pills.

Good for you, yes?
Absolutely. Antioxidants are extremely good for you in a number of ways.
They fight free-radicals, slow the aging process, make you feel younger, prevent cancer, heart disease and many other diseases. Now if you still do not think that antioxidants are cool then check this out, they will also help your body recover faster and more efficiently from that intense workout you just had.

Now why is that a good thing?
Well the faster you recover from your workout, the quicker you can get back into the gym, the harder you can exercise, the faster you will see results.

So how do they aid in recovery?
When you exercise, your body produces all sorts of free-radicals that can start to damage your muscle tissue. Antioxidants help to stop the production of those free-radicals during your workout. Now for this to have the greatest effect you should aim at getting a boost in antioxidants about an hour or so before your workout. This will greatly reduce any damage done to the muscles from those nasty free-radicals, your muscles will recover mush better, and in turn, you will see better results. That’s got to be a good thing.

Now there are no scare tactics at play here. You don’t have to rush to the green grocer right now to grab a bag full of blueberries because you won’t tone up if you don’t. Not at all.
What I am saying however, is that it can help.

Muscle Recovery
Most of us know the effects of over working your muscles. It can be detrimental if you do not give your body enough time to recover. Think of recovery as the growing stage, your muscle fibres repair themselves and grow bigger and stronger. If your aim is muscle growth, then recovery is one of the most important parts, and if you can not stay away from the gym for very long, then any extra help with recovery is essential. Antioxidants can help.

Yes, there are a number of post-workout supplements on the market that aid in recovery, some are good, many are not. I’ve always been a strong believer that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That is why I like to get some antioxidants into me about an hour or so before my workout. Obviously this can be a bit of a hassle if you are an early riser and early exerciser, and if you are like me and your memory is not so hot, you can simply forget. But for all those times where you do get some extra antioxidants into you pre-workout, you will start to notice better muscle recovery, and better overall results, regardless of your fitness goals.

Antioxidants from Whole Foods
Some of the greatest antioxidants can be found in some yummy whole foods which could be ideal to snack on before your big workout. The usual ones are berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, and cherries. Acai fruit is really good, and also green tea sweetened with a little raw honey, yum! Some of the less well know foods are nuts and seeds, beans, grapes, cinnamon, purple potatoes, and of course dark chocolate and red wine. Although the last one might not be such a great idea before your workout.
So there are certainly plenty of pre-workout snacks to choose from.

You also get plenty of antioxidants from eating fruit and vegetables, so if your diet is packed full of both, as it should be, then the majority or your meals will be packed with antioxidants anyway. Also, most multi-vitamins have a good source of antioxidants in them, so if you take them, again you may already have a healthy level of antioxidants in the system.
Still, every little bit helps, so planning a quick “antioxidant packed” snack before your workout will add an extra boost to your workout and recovery.

While I do prefer eating raw whole foods rather than taking supplements, there are a few good quality supplements around. Unfortunately though, it can sometimes be a case of trial and error. Find one that works for you and stick with it. Even if you are taking an antioxidant supplement once a day, a quick “whole foods” boost before your workout can top it off nicely.

So to conclude our little article on antioxidants and muscle recovery…

• Antioxidants help fight free-radicals during and after exercise and a little boost before your workout will aid in faster and more efficient muscle recovery
• Continue eating plenty of the good stuff (fruits, vegetables, antioxidant rich foods like berries and green teas)
• If you feel your diet is lacking a little in the antioxidant area, and you are interested in supplements, find one that works for you and stick with it
• Have an antioxidant rich snack an hour or so before each workout to really boost your recovery

Obviously antioxidants are only a piece of the health and nutritional pie. To find out some more interesting ways to boost your metabolism, burn the body fat, and build the muscle, check out AbTrainingSecret.com

Also, if you feel you need an instant boost of antioxidants and you are interested in some supplements, why not check out this Free Acai Berry Offer

• Brand new 4 bottles of Xango juices
• Exp: 01/2011 or later
• Fast delivery of USPS insured air mail.

Product Description
Brand new 4 bottles of Xango juices
Exp: 01/2011 or later
Fast delivery!… More >>

4 BOTTLES OF XANGO JUICE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT