Free radicals are highly unstable and extremely short lived. Their lifespan measures a trillionth of a second or less. Free radicals generally do not carry a net charge on the molecule, making their reactivity different from the reactivity of other similar ions. The unpaired electrons of a free radical create an activated energy state, which makes the molecule extremely reactive on a chemical basis. During their short existence, free radicals that are highly unstable can cause considerable damage to the cell, leaving a field of destruction in their wake.
One of life s strangest paradoxes is that oxygen, the giver of life, can also be our mortal enemy. Although it is essential for life, the involvement of oxygen in the cell s respiratory processes is one of the main factors of growing old. When the molecules that make up our entire body give up an electron, they are oxidized. On the other hand, when they accept an electron, they are reduced. Reduction is basically the controlled oxidation or combustion by proteins called enzymes. The result of this controlled oxidation is broken down molecules, releasing energy.
During cellular respiration, some of the electrons that are exchanged escape. These electrons are unstable due to their configuration, and are extremely aggressive, as they react with and damage other molecules in the cell. About 2 5 of the electrons that pass through the cell s respiratory processes are turned into this kind of unstable electron. These unstable electrons are often referred to as free radicals. A cell will often snuff out free radicals by neutralizing them with antioxidants, as they donate electrons in order to convert the unstable electron into a more stable form. During this process, the antioxidant itself becomes oxidized and needs to be replenished. Unfortunately, if the cell s antioxidant status has been depleted because of excessive physiological demands or a chronic nutritional insufficiency, the cells capacity is likely to become extinguished due to the continuous flux of free radicals.
Not everything about free radicals is bad for the cell. Free radicals are extremely important in a number of biological processes. They are crucial for the body s immune response, as they kill bacteria and other invading pathogens by neutralizing them. Free radicals also are important in certain cell signaling processes, including the initiation of the inflammatory response. The secret to free radicals lies in balance. Because of this, it is essential that the cells of your body be maintained in their optimal nutritional state.
Even a moderate amount of exercise can change the body s cellular redox balance, causing the release of tons of free radicals; for this reason, those athletes who push themselves to the limits of physical endurance need high levels of antioxidant protection daily. If left unchecked, free radical damage can threaten the integrity of essential bimolecular and structural components found in the cell, including lipids in the membranes of the cell, enzymatic and structural proteins, and DNA that encodes the cell s genetic blueprint. Once the damage begins, the process of degenerative disease and accelerated aging also begins.
It is essential for us to avoid the release of free radicals due to antioxidant stores or chronic inflammation in the cells and tissues of the body. This is why supplement manufactures have come up with antioxidant formulas to help restore the body to maximum performance. Quality antioxidant formulas are available at your local or internet health food store.
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