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The Danger Of Free Radicals

Due to the increased environmental production of free radicals and the fact that the natural reserves of anti-oxidants decrease fairly sharply as we get older, the amount of free radicals causing damage far outnumber the protecting anti-oxidants. This leaves us open to the cumulative effects of oxidative stress, which can be extremely detrimental to our health.

Free radicals are charged molecules that contain an unpaired electron. Being charged makes such molecules very reactive and unstable. By nature such molecules are always looking for a partner to bond with to fill the gap. This can result in harmful combinations of various organic molecules within the body.

The primary cause of free radicals is the calorie burning process of various nutrients with oxygen, required for the life of body cells. Over time free radicals are created by calorie consumption and normal metabolism and are then increased by sunlight, exercise, injury, pollution, alcohol smoking Also many food materials such as oxidized and hydrogenated oils can significantly contribute to free radical buildup. Once inside the body, and if not cleaned up by anti-oxidants, free radicals can cause chain reactions over time, releasing tens of thousands more and doing serious damage.

Free Radicals Attacks

If you want to see how anti-oxidants protect things, then get an apple and a lemon (organic of course). Cut the apple and the lemon in half. Squeeze and rub the lemon juice over one half of the apple on the exposed side and do not do this to the other half. Leave both halves of the apple on the side for approximately 30 minutes. After this period, go back and check the condition of the two halves. The untreated half will have started to go brown and dry out, this is caused by Oxidization (free radical attack).

The treated half will still be moist and will not have discoloured. The citric acid (vitamin C) in the lemon juice is an anti-oxidant, and protected the treated half of the apple. This is a great visual example to show how anti-oxidants work inside and outside our bodies to protect us from the effects of free radical attack.

Many prominent researchers and physicians believe free radical attack is a great danger to our health.