What are free radicals in the body is a question that most health conscious people ask a lot. When the human system uses oxygen, as it always does, the by-product of the oxidation process brings about oxidative damage to body cells. During the process, very highly reactive molecules, mostly from environmental pollution, Ultraviolet light, and smoking will come by as free radicals.
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.
The best explanation of these molecules is that they are termed as "free" because they are always in search of other molecules to make them stable. They are further termed as "radicals" because they are available in millions and can find a pair to stabilize with from so many other molecules. It is worth mentioning that the stabilization process can wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy system. This is because it starts a snowball effect once the lone molecule finds a pair, the donating molecule assumes the new title of "free radical", and the chain continues.
Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, mucular generation, Parkinson's disease, and glaucoma are few of the many health complications associated with these lone molecules in the body.
The good news is that the lone molecules can be stabilized and the degenerating effect brought to a halt, all thanks to antioxidants. Note that the process of stabilization destroys so many healthy tissues, hence the need to put to an end to the degenerative process.
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.
The need to have a free radical scavenger can never be overemphasized enough. This can be a mineral, vitamin, or enzyme that has the ability to destroy the roaming and unstable molecules. The main role of the scavenger in the body is to hunt down all unstable molecules and work to destroy it early enough so they do not cause significant damage to cells. Once you understand what are free radicals in the body, you will be in the best position to search for these scavengers (read antioxidants).
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.
The best explanation of these molecules is that they are termed as "free" because they are always in search of other molecules to make them stable. They are further termed as "radicals" because they are available in millions and can find a pair to stabilize with from so many other molecules. It is worth mentioning that the stabilization process can wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy system. This is because it starts a snowball effect once the lone molecule finds a pair, the donating molecule assumes the new title of "free radical", and the chain continues.
Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, mucular generation, Parkinson's disease, and glaucoma are few of the many health complications associated with these lone molecules in the body.
The good news is that the lone molecules can be stabilized and the degenerating effect brought to a halt, all thanks to antioxidants. Note that the process of stabilization destroys so many healthy tissues, hence the need to put to an end to the degenerative process.
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.
The need to have a free radical scavenger can never be overemphasized enough. This can be a mineral, vitamin, or enzyme that has the ability to destroy the roaming and unstable molecules. The main role of the scavenger in the body is to hunt down all unstable molecules and work to destroy it early enough so they do not cause significant damage to cells. Once you understand what are free radicals in the body, you will be in the best position to search for these scavengers (read antioxidants).