What are free radicals and why are they bad?

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage the cells in your body. They often occur as a result of normal metabolic processes, as well as environmental stressors. The body loses its ability to combat their effects as we age. This results in more free radicals, cell damage, and oxidative stress.

What are free radicals and what can they do to DNA?

Free radicals are produced in cells by cellular metabolism and by exogenous agents. These species react with biomolecules in cells, including DNA. The resulting damage to DNA, which is also called oxidative damage to DNA, is implicated in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and aging.

Can you neutralize free radicals?

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. In making this sacrifice, they act as a natural “off” switch for the free radicals. This helps break a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell and other cells in the body.

What are free radicals and how are they formed?

A molecule with one or more unpaired electron in its outer shell is called a free radical (1-5). Free radicals are formed from molecules via the breakage of a chemical bond such that each fragment keeps one electron, by cleavage of a radical to give another radical and, also via redox reactions (1, 2).

What causes oxidative stress in the brain?

Oxidative stress (OS), caused by the imbalance between the generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), plays an important role in brain aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and other related adverse conditions, such as ischemia.

Can you reverse free radical damage?

Your body uses antioxidants to balance free radicals. This keeps them from causing damage to other cells. Antioxidants can protect and reverse some of the damage.

What diseases are caused by free radicals?

Free radicals are associated with human disease, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and many others.

Can you get too many antioxidants?

“More is not always more in nutrition. And too much can be a bad thing, especially in the mega high doses coming in the supplements,” Dr Beckett said. In fact, research has shown that, in some instances, taking antioxidant supplements can cause harm, and even increase the risk of cancer.

What foods kill free radicals?

In addition to boosting your immune system, vitamin C also helps prevent the damage that free radicals cause by eliminating them before they become an irreversible problem. Foods high in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruit, bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, pineapple, papaya, broccoli, brussels sprouts and spinach.

What foods reduce free radicals?

Broccoli.

What are our natural defenses against free radicals?

Luckily for us, each of our cells has a natural defense system that is dedicated to destroying free radicals: our antioxidative system. The antioxidative system allows us to keep free radicals under control. It prevents them to be in excess and keeps them from triggering oxidative damage, i.e. oxidative stress.

How do you reduce free radicals?

Luckily, vitamin C can combat free radicals and help to reduce your risk of cell damage and subsequent disease. By consuming a diet rich in fruits in vegetables, including citrus fruits, you can increase your intake of this important vitamin.

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