“Free Radicals” Attacking and Raiding Healthy Cells

Some words are trendy and thrown around a lot, and in many cases, the persons who use these words don’t have a clue as to what they really mean. Two such words that I hear way too much without much explanation attached to it are “anti-oxidants” and “free radicals”. These two terms sound cool to say, but when asked for further explanation of exactly what they mean, nobody really appears to be able to give me a good answer. In this article, I will explain clearly and lucidly, once and for all, exactly what are “anti-oxidants” and “free radicals”.

Just Ask A Nutrition Store Clerk “What Is An Anti-Oxidant?” – And See What Happens

Just go to any health or nutrition store, and ask the clerk or whoever claims to be the in-store resident guru and ask them: “What is an anti-oxidant?” I will guarantee that the first thing that they say is something like: “Oh, sure. You need them to fight the free radicals in your body.” Well, e-x-c-u-s-e me!! Now, you have introduced two words, neither of which have been adequately defined or explained for me.

To Understand An Anti-Oxidant, You Must Understand Basic High School Chemistry at the Molecular Level

Anti-oxidant theory is based on the way a healthy oxygen molecular is supposed to behave within your body at the cellular molecular level. Let’s review our high school chemistry. An atom is the smallest theoretical particle of matter. An atom is comprised of a nucleus of particles called protons. And revolving around the nucleus, like planets circling the sun, we have the particles called electrons. Now here is the key to understanding the conundrum. There must be an equality in number of the protons with the electrons, that is to say, if there are 8 protons, for a healthy normal atom, there must be also revolving around these 8 protons, 8 corresponding electrons. The number of neutrons must equal the number of electrons. Two (or more) atoms joined together becomes a molecule. In the case of oxygen, join two oxygen atoms – and you get – ta da! – and oxygen molecule. This is a healthy oxygen molecule.

How “Free Radicals” Are Formed

Free radicals. (Wow! What an exciting and sexy name for a chemical reaction.) Anyway, let me explain here what they are and how they are formed. Due to toxins and pollutants that we breathe in the air, these environmental poisons cause electrons to destabilize, that is, to break off a normal oxygen molecule, and thus causing it to be short an electron. Now, this molecule has become deranged and unstable. Because it does not have an even number and balance of electrons to match with the number of protons, it becomes – the piranha of oxygen molecules which we call – a free radical. Now these free radical molecules are searching for an extra electron that they can “steal” from other cell tissue. (Now that is radical!) This consequently causes a domino effect, for every molecule that gets its electron stolen, in turn, become a “free radical” molecule as well. This is kind of like when a werewolf bites you, you become a werewolf in turn. This domino effect can wreck havoc to healthy tissue within the body resulting in premature aging, destruction of DNA and even clogging of the arteries. Who can save us?

Anti-Oxidants to the Rescue!

Anti-oxidants which are found in fresh foods like vegetables and fruits, in supplements which contain vitamins A, C, E and beta carotene, act like a giant wall or boulder standing in front of the path of these nasty free radicals, stopping their disruptive and damaging activity. So, eat up and eat healthy and may your life be filled with lots of anti-oxidants and be you forever shielded from the rogues of free radicals.

Please leave your comments.

Yours in health,

Charles Prosper

“The 12-Week Fitness Guru”