Free Radicals

What are Free Radicals and Antioxidants?

You and everyone else in this world are all made up of atoms. Normal atoms have a outer shell and live a happy life. Atoms that do NOT have a full outer shell of electrons are unhappy and unstable. These unstable depressed atoms very badly want to get another electron so they can be stable and inert. These unstable atoms are what we call - Free Radicals.

Free radicals tend to move quickly to try to steal an electron from whatever molecule happens to be around them. Of course, whoever they steal an electron from becomes a new free radical and the process is like a continues on like a chain letter.

These atoms called free radicals are not that bad in moderation. Our body performs many functions and there will always be some free radicals created. However, if the level of free radicals gets too high in your body, you can run into major problems. Numerous diseases and health issues have been linked to high levels of free radicals.

One of the more common types of free radicals are oxygen free radicals. These are oxygen atoms missing an electron. Remember the rust you see on the side of old cars - well the same thing basically happens inside our body. Oxidative stress is what it is called when oxygen free radicals start to cause damage in your body.