打破健康补品的医学童话

A hypothesis was thus born: antioxidants, including Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and polyphenols, are a weapon against free-radical damage.
于是一项猜想就此诞生了：包括维生素C、E，β-胡萝卜素和多酚在内的抗氧化物是对抗自由基损害的有利武器。

Manufacturers have since emblazoned “antioxidants” on everything. Nestle’s Glowelle Beauty Drink connects to beliefs about antioxidants’ skin benefits with its message about being “the highest antioxidant beauty drink”. Coca Cola’s Vitamin Water-XXX boasts “triple antioxidants”. Even Starbucks introduced its “antioxidant-rich” Blueberries & Crème Frappuccino.
生产厂商自此就将所有产品标有“抗氧化物”。雀巢公司就标榜其抗氧化美容饮品Glowelle是“最强抗氧化美容饮品”，从而将产品本身与抗氧化剂对皮肤有好处联系起来。可口可乐公司推出的维他命水饮料就夸耀自己含有“三倍抗氧化物”。就连星巴克咖啡也推出“富含抗氧化物”的蓝莓奶油星冰乐。

Last year alone, hundreds of products with antioxidant claims were launched, said Carlotta Mast, editor-in-chief of Newhope360.com, which tracks the market in natural, organic and healthy products.
Newhope360.com网站主编卡洛塔•玛斯特说，单单去年一年，数百种声称富含抗氧化物的产品上市出售。据悉，该网站一直致力于追踪自然有机健康产品的市场情况。

Advertisement campaigns aside, athletes have been driving the “antioxidant” bandwagon.
广告大战也参与其中，运动员一直是“抗氧化剂”潮流的领跑者。

Elite marathon runner Wesley Korir of Kenya swears by antioxidant supplements, which he believes have kept him healthy, allowing him to do faster workouts and recover more quickly.
肯尼亚著名马拉松运动员卫斯理•科利尔十分信赖抗氧化补充剂，他深信这类产品让他保持健康，帮助他在训练中取得更快的成绩，恢复得也更快。

Korir, winner of the last two Los Angeles Marathons, takes several supplements, including a liquid product with acai, a fruit that contains antioxidants.
科利尔是前两届洛杉矶马拉松比赛的冠军，他服用多种补充剂，其中之一就是从富含抗氧化物的巴西苺果中提取出来的液体饮品。

But experts warn that supplementing with antioxidants may blunt the beneficial effects of working out.
但专家也发出警告，补充抗氧化物可能会减弱训练所带来的益处。

“To fight oxidative stress, exercise. And eat your fruits and vegetables,” professor David Neiman at Appalachian State University, US gives his timeworn advice.
美国阿巴拉契亚州立大学教授大卫•雷曼还是给出他一贯的老观点：“想要打败氧化作用，那就运动吧。同时多吃水果和蔬菜。”