Running Ultra-Marathons May Damage Your Blood Cells, Study Finds
Researchers analyzed blood samples from 23 athletes before and after a long ultra-marathon and discovered that red blood cells become damaged, displaying characteristics similar to those seen in aging. This finding suggests that extreme endurance running could accelerate biological aging.
The study revealed that during running, the body expends resources not only on muscle recovery but also on urgently producing new blood cells and eliminating toxins. This places additional stress on the body and may have long-term effects on the circulatory system’s health.
These insights may lead to reconsideration of ultra-marathon training regimens and highlight the importance of proper recovery to minimize the harmful impact on blood cells.
