Free radicals can damage our health if not properly controlled. Explore how antioxidants can protect your body against oxidative stress and improve your overall well-being.
Free radical damage requires us to be more conscious of our diet.
Imagine a big ballroom dance where couples twirl and gyrate to the music.
Until a single dancer without a partner enters the ballroom. She interrupts another couple dancing. This leaves one of the original couples without a partner.
This new lone dancer interrupts another couple and by interrupting, this bizarre scenario creates chaos. A chain reaction of changing partners interrupting the dance over and over again.
When molecules in our body do this, it is called oxidative stress.
Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron. They look for sources from which they can steal an electron.
After gaining an electron, the donor molecule is often damaged. When this combination of electrons becomes widespread, it can become a major health problem.
Oxidative stress from free radicals is a natural process. Our body uses it when we exercise or fight an infection. It is a normal part of the body's intricate system for staying healthy.
However, when there are too many free radicals, problems can arise. It can contribute to a variety of modern inflammatory diseases. Conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart disease and high blood pressure can result. Even Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer and many neurological diseases.
What is the solution?
Having one more dancer in the room can reduce this chaos in the ballroom. In the body, that's what an «antioxidant» does.
Antioxidants are molecules that can donate an electron without becoming unstable. This causes free radicals to stabilize and become less reactive.
The good news is that there are two key strategies we can use to combat free radicals.
Reduce exposure to free radicals : An old saying comes to mind, «When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.» Look for ways to reduce oxidative stress in your body. This may include reducing your exposure to ozone, pesticides, tobacco smoke and pollution. Reduce alcohol and sugar in all its forms.
Increase antioxidants : our body nourishes itself and the food we eat to provide antioxidants. Free radical damage requires being more conscious of our diet. Consider adding grapes, blueberries, nuts, dark green vegetables, root vegetables, beans and fish. Limit processed meats such as sausage, bacon and salami.
As with so many things in the body, we need balance. We need the right amount of free radicals and the right amount of antioxidants to get them under control.
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