Anerobic/Aerobic Excercises And Free Radicals

[ChrisD]

Which type of excessive excercise produces MORE free radical damage, "aerobic" or anaerobic? I have read that excessive excercise that tends to use the aerobic metabolic pathway more produces more free radical damage. Is this true?

[Luke Paskins]

It's all about thresholds. After a certain point, you just wear your body out. Green tea is my answer to anything free-radical related.

[Patrick McGuffin]

I think I reached my aerobic threashold(sp?) today, I swear I was hit by a freight train :C: I need to start drinking green tea again, it does wonders.

[patrick w.]

Both have the potential to create free radicals. It is to hard to say which creates more. There are two ways in which free radicals can be created:

1) an electron leak in the mitochondria of the cells. most likely occuring during aerobic metabolism.

2) During alterations in blood flow and oxygen supply for example an underperfusion during intense exercise followed by reperfusion during recovery...think a heavy set of 10 reps on the squat followed by rest.



Overal work intensity (be it aerobic or anerobic) seems to be the main factor in the creation of free radicals.