You have probably come across the question what are free radicals in the body and are wondering exactly what they are. These are simply highly reactive molecules manufactured in the body. They are manufactured through a natural body process as an end product of oxidation (metabolism), and by exposure to readily available toxins in the environment such as ultraviolet light and tobacco smoke.
With that being said, it is important to keep in mind that they are often a lone electron looking to stabilize so that the reactive process would stop. In their pursuit for stabilization, they will often be looking for other lone moving molecules to bind to. The process of stabilization of lone molecules causes so many complications and processes in the body. This is where aging and tissue damage comes in.
They are indeed "free" since they float around till they stabilize, and are "radicals" because there are so many molecules from which they can derive and pair with an electron. Note that once the reactive process of pairing with other electrons starts, it becomes a snowball effect that wreaks havoc on otherwise healthy tissues. This is because the new molecule that pairs with it, also misses an electron in the process, hence acquires the new title of a free radical, and the chain continues.
As previously mentioned, these molecules have been linked to a myriad of health complications including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, age-related mucular degeneration, Parkison's disease, and glaucoma to mention but a few.
Worth noting is that when looking to pair with other roaming molecules, the process significantly destroys an otherwise health status of other cells and tissues in the system, thus making the process worse. Luckily, thanks to antioxidants, the snowball effect is significantly reduced.
Antioxidants are known as lone radicals scavengers. They inhibit the creation of the lone molecules in the first place. They further neutralize the lone molecules, thus ensuring the healthy tissues of the system are well protected against the harmful effects brought about by oxidation stress. Examples of antioxidants include Vitamin c, Vitamin E, betacarotine, lutein, selenium, lycopene, resveratrol, and lipoic acid. Also worth mentioning is that antioxidants are readily present in most diets today.
While these antioxidants are readily available in the market in supplement form, it is worth mentioning that they can also be derived from a number of natural remedies and foods. These foods include goji berries, cocoa, black tea, chokeberry, acai, oolong tea, medicinal mushrooms, white tea, wheatgrass, and tart cherries to mention but a few. Most vegetables and fruits are also believed to be potent sources of antioxidants, and so are proteins and grains.
With that being said, it is important to ensure you have a free radical scavenger in your diet all the time. This can be an enzyme, a vitamin, or even a simple mineral that will destroy the lone and unstable molecules. This scavenger basically hunts down all lone molecules and destroys them. This way, they will not end up causing any harmful damage to healthy cells. What are free radicals in the body and what are the best scavengers can best be understood once you clearly understand what antioxidants are.
With that being said, it is important to keep in mind that they are often a lone electron looking to stabilize so that the reactive process would stop. In their pursuit for stabilization, they will often be looking for other lone moving molecules to bind to. The process of stabilization of lone molecules causes so many complications and processes in the body. This is where aging and tissue damage comes in.
They are indeed "free" since they float around till they stabilize, and are "radicals" because there are so many molecules from which they can derive and pair with an electron. Note that once the reactive process of pairing with other electrons starts, it becomes a snowball effect that wreaks havoc on otherwise healthy tissues. This is because the new molecule that pairs with it, also misses an electron in the process, hence acquires the new title of a free radical, and the chain continues.
As previously mentioned, these molecules have been linked to a myriad of health complications including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, age-related mucular degeneration, Parkison's disease, and glaucoma to mention but a few.
Worth noting is that when looking to pair with other roaming molecules, the process significantly destroys an otherwise health status of other cells and tissues in the system, thus making the process worse. Luckily, thanks to antioxidants, the snowball effect is significantly reduced.
Antioxidants are known as lone radicals scavengers. They inhibit the creation of the lone molecules in the first place. They further neutralize the lone molecules, thus ensuring the healthy tissues of the system are well protected against the harmful effects brought about by oxidation stress. Examples of antioxidants include Vitamin c, Vitamin E, betacarotine, lutein, selenium, lycopene, resveratrol, and lipoic acid. Also worth mentioning is that antioxidants are readily present in most diets today.
While these antioxidants are readily available in the market in supplement form, it is worth mentioning that they can also be derived from a number of natural remedies and foods. These foods include goji berries, cocoa, black tea, chokeberry, acai, oolong tea, medicinal mushrooms, white tea, wheatgrass, and tart cherries to mention but a few. Most vegetables and fruits are also believed to be potent sources of antioxidants, and so are proteins and grains.
With that being said, it is important to ensure you have a free radical scavenger in your diet all the time. This can be an enzyme, a vitamin, or even a simple mineral that will destroy the lone and unstable molecules. This scavenger basically hunts down all lone molecules and destroys them. This way, they will not end up causing any harmful damage to healthy cells. What are free radicals in the body and what are the best scavengers can best be understood once you clearly understand what antioxidants are.
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