Antioxidants - Introduction

 
Introduction

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from free radical (oxidative) damage and are found in nutrients and elements such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes. A free radical is an unstable molecule or group of molecules that contains at least one unpaired electron in its outer orbit. Typically, electrons are paired and negatively charged -- an inherently stable structure. When an electron is unpaired, another molecule or atom can easily bind with it, causing a chemical reaction. As free radicals react so easily with other compounds, they can cause dramatic changes and damage in the body (unstable oxygen molecules). Free radical damage is implicated in everything from the natural process of aging to genetic mutation resulting in cancer.

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