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The point of the article is that, somewhat surprisingly, the body seems to use the reactive oxygen compounds released during exercise as a signal that the body

The point of the article is that, somewhat surprisingly, the body seems to use the reactive oxygen compounds released during exercise as a signal that the body should regulate its insulin sensitivity, so if you're exercising to help keep diabetes in check, taking antioxidants (which destroy them) is actually going to be cancel out those benefits. As with most studies (particularly anything involving nutrition!), further studies will be necessary before there's a consensus on the specifics.

rarrrrrr 18y ago
Unfortunately the NYT's coverage of nutrition lately has been so bad as to make me think of most of the articles as press hits by the pharmaceutical and food industry. The conclusions from the study are interesting. However, giving people the impression they should cut antioxidants to improve overall health (via insulin regulation effects from exercise) is suboptimal. The antioxidants are rather important long term. Exercise is critical but not sufficient if you're going to continue eating refined sugars and grains that bring about a need to improve insulin regulation to begin with. So, to be clear, the prevention for diabetes is: Exercise regularly and remove all refined/processed foods from your diet. Don't cut out antioxidants.
- zmimon 18y ago
  > So, to be clear, the prevention for diabetes is: Exercise regularly and remove all refined/processed foods from your diet. Don't cut out antioxidants. Or, just have a simple operation and cure it for real (type 2 anyway): http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2009/2554683.htm http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2009/2554683.ht...
- WilliamLP 18y ago
  The issue of grains is a really striking example of how people (up to nutrition professionals and medial doctors) engage in group-think when the facts don't fit preconceptions and aren't convenient. As far as I can tell, grains, including corn, whole wheat bred, and rice, are pretty unambiguously bad for health in practically all respects, yet many people cling, with strong emotions, to the belief that they are healthy foods.

rarrrrrr 18y ago

Unfortunately the NYT's coverage of nutrition lately has been so bad as to make me think of most of the articles as press hits by the pharmaceutical and food industry. The conclusions from the study are interesting. However, giving people the impression they should cut antioxidants to improve overall health (via insulin regulation effects from exercise) is suboptimal. The antioxidants are rather important long term. Exercise is critical but not sufficient if you're going to continue eating refined sugars and grains that bring about a need to improve insulin regulation to begin with. So, to be clear, the prevention for diabetes is: Exercise regularly and remove all refined/processed foods from your diet. Don't cut out antioxidants.

zmimon 18y ago
> So, to be clear, the prevention for diabetes is: Exercise regularly and remove all refined/processed foods from your diet. Don't cut out antioxidants. Or, just have a simple operation and cure it for real (type 2 anyway): http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2009/2554683.htm http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2009/2554683.ht...
WilliamLP 18y ago
The issue of grains is a really striking example of how people (up to nutrition professionals and medial doctors) engage in group-think when the facts don't fit preconceptions and aren't convenient. As far as I can tell, grains, including corn, whole wheat bred, and rice, are pretty unambiguously bad for health in practically all respects, yet many people cling, with strong emotions, to the belief that they are healthy foods.