Free Radicals & Antioxidants

Besides carbon, oxygen is one of the most common chemical element in our body. As matter of fact, all living things on this planet earth cannot survive long without oxygen. However, oxygen can also make iron rust, silver blacken, butter turn rancid, and an apple brown. According to some recent researches, it can also mess with our DNA, weaken our memory and accelerate aging.

Normally, oxygen carries 8 electrons, usually in 4 sets, each containing 2 electrons. These electrons are paired together in some stable orbits over the oxygen nucleus. However, sometimes, the molecule would somehow lose an electron or gain an extra electron causing an unstable molecule known as a "free radical".

In trying to return to its normal 8-electron state, the unstable molecule will try to either snatch or dump an electron to a neighbouring oxygen molecule. This can cause a chain reaction and create havoc and damages to our bodies. "Oxidative stress", or the accumulation of these damages, can cause muscle loss, cataracts, and cancers. Since our brains use a huge amount of oxygen and therefore are highly susceptible to the oxidative stress attacks. Researchers now believe that free radicals can also be the cause for Alzheimer's disease.

It is estimated that our body generate about 1 trillion oxygen radicals every day. Normally, our bodies can repair most of the damages by sending the "antioxidants", small molecules that would seek out the free radicals, offer them electrons and return them back to the safe and stable state. However, antioxidant defences are not 100% efficient. At times, they could be overwhelming and succeed in causing permanent damages to our body. Also, as we age, our self healing ability would also dwindle.

Vitamins A, C and E, melatonin, and estrogens replacement hormones are some known antioxidants that can help our bodies to fight against oxidative stress. This is another reason why that we should have fruits and vegetables in our daily diets. However, just remember that excess of anything will not be good for our bodies either. The trick is to balance.

What actually turns a friendly oxygen to a free radical? We do not know the exact causes yet, but the common culprits are cigarette smoke, smog, ultraviolet rays ... We will know more as researchers understand more about them.

According the research there is one certain way to increase Antioxidants and reduce free radical damage by taking Boost Vitality regularly.