What are free radicals?

Answer 1

Free radicals, also known simply as radicals, are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. These molecules are very unstable, therefore they look to bond with other molecules, destroying their health and further continuing the damaging process. Antioxidants, present in many foods, are molecules that prevent free radicals from harming healthy tissue.

Your body comprises trillions of cells. Cells, in turn, are made up of many molecules. Molecules consist of atoms joined by chemical bonds. Atoms consist of neutrons, protons, and electrons. The number of positively charged protons in the atom's nucleus determines the number of negatively charged electrons surrounding the atom. Electrons orbit an atom in one or more shells. When the innermost shell has two electrons, it is full; when the second shell has eight electrons, it is full, and so on. Chemical reactions involve the transfer of electrons, which bond atoms together to form molecules. The number of electrons in an atom's outer shell is an important way to determine its chemical behavior. A substance that has a full outer shell tends to be inert and tends not to react chemically. Atoms reach this state of stability by gaining electrons to fill their outer shells, or by bonding together with other atoms and sharing electrons in order to complete their outer shells.

When molecules split, they normally don't leave molecules with unpaired electrons. But when weak bonds split, they leave one or more molecules with unpaired electrons, called free radicals. Free radicals are positively charged, very unstable, and react quickly with other molecules, to acquire the electron they need to gain stability. Generally, free radicals acquire an electron from the nearest stable molecule. The molecule that loses an electron then becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade. Excessive free radicals in your cells can attack the cell membranes, causing cell and tissue damage. Free radicals can also break strands of DNA (the genetic material in your cells), which can lead to cancer.