Antioxidant and Free Radicals
What are free radicals? Why are they
damaging to the human body? And how does vitamin E and the other
antioxidant nutrients help protect the body against free radical
damage?
In this article, we will attempt to
answer all your questions about antioxidant and free radicals, plus
help you understand why it is so important to include rich sources
of antioxidant nutrients in your daily diet.
A Little Background on Chemical
Bonding
When talking about antioxidant and
free radicals, we can’t help but touch a little on biochemistry. You
probably remember from your old high school days that the human body
is composed of many different cells and each cell is composed of
many different molecules. Molecules consist of one or more atoms of
one or more elements joined together by chemical bonds.
A typical atom is comprised of a
nucleus – neutrons, protons, and electrons. Electrons are those
negatively charged particles that orbit the cluster of protons in an
atom. When there are eight electrons in an orbit, it means that that
particular orbit (or shell as it is called) is full which further
means the atom is stable. Stable atoms tend not to enter into
chemical reactions. Because atoms seek to reach a state of maximum
stability, an atom will try to fill its shell with electrons by:
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Gaining or losing electrons to
either fill or empty its outer shell |
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Sharing its electrons by bonding
together with other atoms in order to complete its outer shell |
Free Radicals: The Formation
The free radicals are formed when
weak bonds between atoms are split. Free radicals contain an odd,
unpaired electron which causes them to be very unstable and react
quickly with other compounds. Because it is the nature of free
radicals, which is basically an atom with an unpaired electron, to
achieve stability, they will try to do so by capturing the needed
electron from other molecules. When the free radicals steel
electrons from a stable molecule, that molecule will become a free
radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process of free
radicals formation is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in
the disruption of a living cell.
Antioxidants: Natural Enemies of Free
Radicals
Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E
are thought to protect the body against the destructive effects of
free radicals. What antioxidants do is neutralize the free radicals.
Antioxidants do this by donating one of their own electrons, thus
ending the electron-“stealing” reaction.
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Antioxidants
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