Free Radicals Or Radicals
Radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms, molecules or ions with unpaired electrons, which can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so they are likely to take part in chemical reactions.
They are called 'Free' radicals, because they float around, very activily looking to "steal" an electron somewhere, so they can stabilize again.
And it's exactly due to their high reactivy, these same free radicals can be part of unwanted side reactions resulting in cell damage. And that on its turn, can start a chain reaction, like dominoes.
Radicals in themselves can be can be beneficial instead of harmful. The big problem is, in their search for a missing electron they do not care if they get it from healthy or harmful molecules. That increases the possibility of targeting your other healthy cells, causing massive cellular damage, tissue damage, and eventually resulting in a chronic disease or disorder, such as aging. It is for this reason that the free radicals are considered harmful in our bodies.
There's no way of avoiding radicals, not only are they produced by your body, they're also part of the environment. For instance, free radicals are produced by smoking, and by exposure to low-level radiation thrown off by electronic equipment.
Free radicals damage the body's cells and the cells' DNA. In general, they may be (at least part of) the reason why we age. They deposit plaque in your arteries, constricting them. Researchers also believe that this damage leads to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimers disease and forms of cancer. These cancers are thought to be the result of reactions between free radicals and DNA, resulting in mutations that can adversely affect the cell cycle.
To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants.
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