Free radicals, oxidation, and cell damage. Its fairly common knowledge that our body's are constantly under attack. Chances are you have heard of antioxidants, Acai berries, grape seed extract or mangosteen for fighting them.
However, you may not know what any of this means. Its common to dismiss claims about products like Acai Berry as snake oil. This is because many people don't know what free radicals or antioxidants are.
But, we do in fact know a number of things, even though research is new. Scientists are uncovering new links between disease and free radicals, and are starting to understand why antioxidants are effective.
Research into free radicals really started to take place in the 90's, when it was discovered that they had a link to atheroclerosis, a type of artery clogging disease.
Scientists now believe that free radical damage is linked to stroke, several skin diseases, Alzheimer's disease and Cancer. Many scientists attribute all aging effects to this particles damage to your cells.
In a free radical molecule, only one electron is present. You might remember, from your science classes, that molecules are very unstable if they only have 1 electron. It is constantly looking for another electron to join forces with.
A typical example of this, is water or H2O. In water, there is one oxygen molecule, and 2 hydrogen molecules. Notice there is only 1 oxygen molecule, while the oxygen you breath is O2. O2 tells you there are 2 oxygen molecules. O1, or an oxygen molecule with one electron, cannot live on its own. Since it can't exist with only 1 electron, it joins with hydrogen, changing it into water.
This reaction is known as oxidization. The hydrogen oxidizes into water, once the binding occurs. The final result, is somthing totally different, water.
A more well known type of oxidization is rust. The scientific name for rust is Ferrous-Oxide. When an oxygen molecule binds with iron, rust is formed.
In your body, the reaction is similar. Pollution, cigarrete smoke and chemicals are a few of the known sources of free radicals.
Regardless of what causes them, we know that once these free radicals enter the body, they need to join with other molecules. Changes, at a molecular level begin as soon as these free radicals bind with the molecules in your cells. The molecule changes into something else, just like water and rust. In your bodies case this can be cancer, clogged arteries, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
There is a good understanding of how free radicals work, even though research is still ongoing. Free radicals need to attach to your cells because of their single electron structure. Just like oxidization that turns iron into rust, your cell becomes something different.
The best way to fight free radicals, is with antioxidants. Acai berries, blueberries, mangosteen and other high antioxidant foods should be added to your diet.
There are still many discoveries to be made in the links between disease and free radicals and how to fight them. But, we must fight back.
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