How do antioxidants help prevent cellular oxidative damage caused by free radicals?
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Filed under: Alternative Medicine
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Atoms are composed of a nucleus, neutrons, protons and electrons. Electrons are positioned in various shells that surround an atom. Each shell has a certain maximum number of electrons it can hold. The outer shell is the critical shell.
Atoms that have full outer shells maintain their chemical properties and bond normally with adjacent atoms. However, atoms that do not have full outer shells will try to react chemically with adjacent atoms in an attempt to fill their outer shell. The incomplete outer shell will try to gain or release electrons to fill or empty their outer shell. or it will attempt to share their outer shell electrons by bonding together with adjacent atoms in order to complete their outer shell. Unfortunately, this changes the chemical properties of that atom and affect surrounding atoms and molecules. These outer shell deficient type of atoms in the human body are called free radicals.
The human body has many different cells that are composed of molecules. Molecules are composed of one or more atoms joined by chemical bonds. Normal body functions can produce these outer shell deficient free radical molecules. Metabolism creates free radicals. And the immune system sometimes produces free radicals to neutralize bacteria and viruses. External factors such as air pollution, sun radiation, smoke and toxic herbicides can trigger free radicals.
Because free radicals have an outer shell that is deficient, they react quickly with other molecules trying to steal electrons from adjacent molecules. When the attacked molecule loses its electron, it’s chemical properties change and it becomes a free radical itself. This starts a domino effect. Unfortunately, this can damage or destroy living cells such as DNA in the human body.
Antioxidants are atoms and molecules that are stable in their current state or even when they lose an electron from their outer shell. So when introduced into a source that has free radicals, they can offer their spare electrons to help neutralize the damaging affects from those free radicals. This helps to minimize cell and tissue damage in the human body and thereby prevent diseases.
Vitamins A, C & E are vitamins that act as antioxidants.
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