Antioxidants May Block The Benefits Of Good Bodily Stress, Like Exercise

The natural antioxidant resveratrol, found in red grapes and other plants and available as a dietary supplement, has been touted as an anti-aging compound. But new research finds that, in older men especially, eating a diet rich in antioxidants may actually counteract many of the health benefits derived from exercise, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The researchers suggest that antioxidants are not a panacea: some oxidative stress is necessary for the body to function effectively. Too many antioxidants may block healthy adaptations to stress, including beneficial exercise stress.