Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive chemicals formed from diatomic oxygen, water, and hydrogen peroxide that have vital functions in biology and chemistry. While they can be beneficial to the body, they can also be harmful if your body can’t get rid of them, which is known as oxidative stress. Exercise can actually make this worse, as it increases ROS production, which can damage your cells and tissues.
A 2021 study published in the journal Antioxidants reviewed 28 human studies and found that whole diets rich in antioxidants demonstrated favorable effects on scavenging exercise-induced ROS generation, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, and antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants are compounds that can donate electrons to ROS, effectively neutralizing them and preventing them from causing damage to cells and tissues. This evidence shows that including antioxidant-rich foods like V8 juice in your diet can help maintain a healthy balance in your body’s oxidative state.