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Free radicals and antioxidants

Free radicals are active molecules having the ability to attach another electron. The molecule has one unpaired electron, and can easily enter into chemical reactions, providing her filling that void. By providing this attaching, it becomes harmless. However, chemical reactions caused by free radicals do not go unnoticed for the body.

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Free radicals

Normal small amount of free radicals present in the human body. A healthy immune system is in control of the activity, and itself contributes to their appearance.

Functions controlled by free radicals:

  • The destruction of viruses and bacteria;
  • Activation of essential enzymes;
  • The production of essential hormones;
  • The production of energy and useful substances.

An example of a controlled free radical is colloidal silver

If the number of free radicals increases, they stimulate even more production of these molecules. The damage to the body increases, so how does the structure of proteins, the method of encoding genetic information and its transfer from cell to cell. Pathologically modified proteins are recognized by human immune system as foreign material, she tries to destroy them. This burden she sometimes can not afford immunity falls, and the develop severe pathology: cancer, leukaemia, cardiac, renal and hepatic failure.

The cells lose their protection because free radicals are destroying the integrity of the cell membrane. In the body accumulates excess fluid, increased levels of calcium. These changes lead to disease, infertility, disruption of biochemical reactions in the skin and premature aging.


The formation of free radicals

The causes of free radicals:

  • Ultraviolet radiation – UV rays are deprived of a molecule of electrons, destroy the cell membranes and theircomponents.
  • Side effects, overdose of drugs – molecule chemical compounds drugs react and enzymatic transformations, are transformed into free radicals.
  • Smoking – nicotine and the resulting resin start of the oxidation reaction.
  • Disturbed the ecological equilibrium, chemical compounds from foods, exhaust fumes, household chemicals enter the human body and trigger the oxidation reaction.
  • The negative effects of stress – stress hormones (adrenaline, cortisol) disrupt the respiration and nutrition of the cells, making it a target for free radicals.

The most noticeable effects of oxidative reactions, running free radicals - physiological destruction of tissues and organs, premature aging.

15 minutes until we fill the car with fuel from evaporation of gasoline in our body there are so many free radicals, but our grandparents never got in my life.

Aging and free radicals

Unstable molecules lacking one or more electrons, sooner or later take him away from full cells. Radicals attack triggers the oxidation reaction, when a normal molecule gives the electron to unstable molecules. Because of ordinary molecules compose all the organs and tissues of the human body, after the oxidation reactions they can no longer remain the same and begin to break down.

After the sampling of the electron, the free radical becomes a stable connection. At this time the attacked molecule becomes a free radical itself. Oxidation reactions are renewed with new strength with other participants. The number of affected cells increases, the chemical reactions take even inert molecules.

For example, you should pay attention to the collagen molecules. Inert under normal circumstances, after oxidation their activity increases, they communicate with each other. The result of this process is the loss of skin elasticity, formation of wrinkles, aging of the dermis. A similar process occurs in all tissues of the human body. This process is comparable to the corrosion of the metal. Free radicals cause the body to "rust".

The chain mechanism of aging starts with the defeat of the radicals in the mitochondria of cells (cellular organelles). The role of these defective molecules inthe aging process has become apparent after numerous studies in recent decades.

The possible consequences of free radicals:

  • Alzheimer's Disease;

  • The appearance of wrinkles and age spots;
  • Inflammatory changes in the joints;
  • Diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
  • The weakening of the muscles that support the skeleton;
  • Loss of elasticity of the skin;
  • Decreased vision and hearing;
  • Age-related mental processes;

  • Cancer.

The more successful person fighting off free radicals, the later it starts the age of onset of age-related changes. Aging at the molecular level leading to alterations in the metabolism of the body. After cell damage by free radicals they accumulate DNA damage, mutation. Modified proteins lead to the bonding of molecules to each other, and can not fully perform its functions. With age, the amount of cross-linking increases.

The destruction of cell structures, destruction of their membranes leads to the fact that all the processes are slowed down or go wrong. Metabolic products are not removed from the cells, and it becomes clogged. The damaging effects from free radicals increased, the body can not resist aging.


To protect the body from free radicals

To counteract the free radicals are reliable way is the intake of antioxidants. These compounds give defective molecules of their electrons without losing its stability and activity. Stop the negative process of destruction of molecules occurs destruction of the cells that do not occur oxidation reaction. Antioxidants become free radicals, but they have almost no power, and not destroy the cells.

In the body, antioxidants come from plant foods, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, trace elements. Part of antioxidants are formed in the human body (enzymes, hormone melatonin).

Most available antioxidants are:

  • alpha-lipoic acid,
  • Vitamin A, E, C and beta-carotene (vegetables and fruits)
  • Cysteine
  • Zinc (the record for the contents of zinc are pumpkin seeds)
  • Flavonoids (Champions contentflavonoids are berries, especially dark colors)
  • Glutathione (the antioxidant produced by the body)
  • Ginkgo Biloba

To counter free radicals, you need to use simple measures to include in your diet plenty of vegetables and fruits, stop Smoking, avoid ultraviolet radiation, to take vitamin and mineral supplements.

One of the best ways to defend against free radicals is to drink every day freshly squeezed juices from vegetables.