What Are Free Radicals And How Do They Affect Our Health?

Most of us have heard the term Free Radical or Antioxidant. But what exactly does that mean and how does that affect our health?

A free radical is a molecule that is chemically unstable because it is missing an electron. Basically the molecule becomes unbalanced. The problem is that our bodies not not tolerate anything that is unbalanced.

Free radicals are very chemically reactive, meaning that they are in a heightened energy state. The free radicals will seek out and acquire an electron to reduce their energy state. These free radicals steal electrons from another molecule, basically robbing Peter to pay Paul. The result of free radicals stealing electrons from healthy cells is damaged DNA, damaged protein molecules that make up many components of the cell and damaged fat molecules in the outer membrane that protects the cell.

Oxidative stress is the condition created due to the accumulation and action of free radicals in the body's cells. As we breathe in oxygen and our cells produce energy through our normal everyday living processes, molecules inside of our cells react with the oxygen we breathe in.

Just as oxygen reacts with certain metals (like on a car) producing rust. In fact, the scientific name for rust is oxidation.

The same oxidation, or "rusting" occurs in every one of our cells.

Oxidation, rusting as we know it, is aging.

So our bodies defense against oxidation is antioxidants.

Other than normal breathing, there are many free radicals that are in our environment. These free radicals are:

Stress

Polution

Smoking

Radiation

Ultra Violet Light

Ozone

Drugs

Industrial chemicals

And... Even Exercise

How Can We Prevent Free Radicals From Destroying Our Cells?

* By reducing your exposure to chemicals and toxins

* Eat a good balanced diet with foods that are rich in antioxidants. (This is getting very difficult as our soils have been depleted of vitamins and minerals)

* Enhance your diet with antioxidant supplements, especially supplements that help your body produce Glutathione (your bodies master antioxidant).