Reactive Oxygen Species: Effect of Diet and Exercise on Oxidation

In recent years, there has been a drastic increase in knowledge indicating that exercise habits and diet influence levels of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress within an organism is an ongoing process, whereby oxygen molecules and other molecules containing oxygen—collectively known as reactive oxygen species (ROS)—remove electrons and protons from proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, thereby making these components inactive or altering their function. Oxidative stress translates into cellular oxidative damage. Exercise is known to reduce all-cause mortality, but interestingly it increases acute oxidative damage. A situation of prolonged oxidative damage has been linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes, to name a few. The concept of oxidation invites the idea that consumption of antioxidant compounds from plants, as well as synthetic ...