This post is pretty much a long time overdue as I promised to post about dietary measures in lowering bad cholesterol, the LDL, ages ago. I have made a bit of research soon after my last post and although I'm a bit muddled regarding free radicals and antioxidants, I will attempt to at least explain what these things are.
Has everyone heard of free radicals and antioxidants? I have but did not fully understand how they work, nor have any idea what they really are. All I know was that, these antioxidants are believed to be beneficial in our bodies' well being and prevent diseases. Free radicals on the other hand, are bad news. More often than not. For the sake of their disruptive effect in the body for this post, focus will be in their effects to health.
A free radical is an atom or molecule that contains one or more unpaired electrons. Where an electron is the negative particle in an atom, a molecule in a cell. You know, those positively and negatively charged attraction between protons and electrons during Cellular Chemistry in school?
And free radicals?
The hydroxyl radical, containing one unpaired electron.
This requires a bit of knowledge in Chemistry where my purpose in showing this is to show the unpaired electron, the culprit in my attempt to explain free radicals.
These unpaired electrons are the free radicals that attach themselves to other free radicals that can disrupt cellular interactions, destroying cell membranes, leading to cell decay or death. These then cause health problems and diseases, although some research also show that not all free radicals are harmful to the body, they can be stable in low concentrations or their coupling with other free radicals make them stable.
Now then,
In chemistry, a free radical is an atom, molecule, or ion that has an unpaired electron.With some exceptions, these unpaired electrons make free radicals highly chemically reactive towards other substances, or even towards themselves: their molecules will often spontaneously mix with the same molecules if they come in contact with each other.
Free radicals and oxidative stress
Oxidative stress is a process where living cells and tissues are damaged as a result of free radicals formed from oxygen metabolism. In saying this, environmental pollution and lifestyle greatly increase oxidative stress. Research shows that:
Cigarette smoking is the most potent free radical generator in the body.
Where a single or a couple of puff of cigarette can produce free radicals in our physiological make-up. Changes occur internally, coupled that with other factors that can affect our health in a bad way, leading to diseases.
Anyone who smokes, please don't shoot the messenger.
Free radicals come with age
As the byproducts of our bodies' cellular reactions, food metabolism and with our bodies' vital functions, their presence can't be helped. As we breathe and aged each day, they are constantly present and growing. What we can do, is to be aware on how we can lessen the damage that they can produce, more so in prevention.
As free radicals corrupt molecules, antioxidants then can help reduce the damage they cause.
Pros of free radicals
It can just be on how our bodies adapt to the growing interaction of free radicals but one of their functions is DETOXIFICATION. This is made possible as the liver produces and uses free radicals for detoxification. Our white blood cells also send free radicals to destroy bacteria, viruses and damaged cells, playing a role in our bodies' maintenance of a healthy immune system.
Antioxidants are nutrients and enzymes that prevent the development of diseases. They basically prevents free radicals from causing further damages inter cellularly. And the good news? There are loads of fruits and vegetables that are full with antioxidant properties.
As I am very limited in knowledge of this topic, most contents are of research. Please do more research yourselves and apologies if I have made it more confusing. Whoever loves Chemistry, please feel free to enlighten, correct, educate and add information to this post. It will be very much welcome.
Now I can go and make a list of our dietary intake that are rich in antioxidants, they were way easier to understand. Pheeew!
References:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42534771
https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-are-free-radicals/
https://www.sharecare.com/health/wellness-healthy-living/how-free-radicals-affect-body
