Everything You Need to Know About Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Free radicals are incomplete, unstable particles that occur as the body metabolizes oxygen. Free radicals attack normal cells in the body, and damage them. The damaged cells become free radicals, and in turn attack other healthy cells causing a vicious cycle to begin. The term oxidative stress is used to describe the damage inflicted on healthy cells by free radicals. Free radicals can also be caused by smoking, environmental pollutants, infections, asbestos exposure, and excessive alcohol consumption. The damage caused by free radicals causes our bodies to age, and contributes to cancers.
Antioxidants are the compounds that occur naturally in the body that prevent or repair the oxidation caused by free radical agents. As we age, our body produces fewer and fewer of these antioxidants. This is the reason that scientists are investigating dietary sources of vital antioxidants. There are many foods that contain these antioxidants like blueberries, garlic, and broccoli, and it is necessary to include these foods in our diet to counter the negative affects of free radicals.
Free radicals are incomplete because they are formed without an electron. When the free radical attacks a cell, it is doing so to steal the electron from that cell. As we get older, the damage caused by free radicals is cumulative, and can lead to cancer or other illnesses.
Antioxidants are stable with, or without an electron. They fight free radicals by sacrificing their electron to neutralize the incomplete particle. This ends the cycle of electron-stealing, and negates the harmful effects of free radicals in the body.
Antioxidants in our diets are essential to maintaining the health of our body's cells. The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published a study showing the foods that have the highest amount of antioxidant properties. Red beans, blueberries, cloves, cinnamon, and Russet potatoes were all reported to contain extremely high amounts of antioxidants that are necessary in healthy cell maintenance.
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Published by Dallas Bolen
I am happily married, and living in WV with my husband and two dogs. My career has spanned many areas of healthcare. I have many interests, the most important being ongoing educational endeavors. View profile
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