Free radicals

[emily]

What are they? And what are they doing in my body?

[Sensei]

Free radicals are highly reactive compounds in the body, which are created during normal metabolic activity or acquired from the environment. They are unstable molecules which take an electron from other cells in your body, causing damage. The biggest effect is aging, but they are also believed to contribute to other degenerative diseases. Antioxidants are supposed to help eliminate the effects of free radicals, but one study I saw showed that OTC supplements did nothing against the free radicals effects.

[Herodotus]

Technically a free radical is a molecule with a free electron (most commonly oxygen). This means it is able to react with other molecules that are otherwise stable. Not usually much of problem , but if that stable molecule is DNA in one of your body cells then it can cause mutations and therefore increased risks of cancer. Antioxidants mop up free radicals, so preventing damage.