What are free radicals?
Free radicals are atoms with at least one unpaired electron. In excess, free radicals produce harmful oxidation that can damage cell membranes. Free radicals are analogous to cattle let loose on a field of planted crops. Uncontrolled, the cattle would destroy the crops. Ranch hands are hired to make sure the cattle stay in place and graze. Antioxidants act much the same way. As the ranch hands for our bodies, antioxidants prevent free radicals from potentially damaging millions of healthy, functioning cells.
Free 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 vigor and perpetuating the detrimental process. Antioxidants, present in many foods, are molecules that prevent free radicals from harming healthy tissue. Some molecules are unstable. They do not have an even number of electrons, so they are always searching for an extra electron they can “steal” to become stable. Out in the world, this is a normal process, but in the body, it can result in unnecessary damage. Free radicals are “free” because they float around until they stabilize, and “radical” in the sense that there are a wide variety of molecules from which they can take an electron. However, the damage doesn’t stop there, as the new molecule, say a piece of a cell wall, is now also missing an electron and has become another free radical.
We searched Yahoo! for “free radical,” ignoring the libertarian magazine, the rock band, and the antioxidant product matches. Instead, we clicked on the very first search result — a link to the Britannica Concise definition of free radical provided by Yahoo! Reference. Typically, stable molecules contain pairs of electrons. When a chemical reaction breaks the bonds that hold paired electrons together, free radicals are produced. Free radicals contain an odd number of electrons, which makes them unstable, short-lived, and highly reactive. As they combine with other atoms that contain unpaired electrons, new radicals are created, and a chain reaction begins. This process is essential for the decomposition of many different substances at high temperatures.
The best way to understand free radicals is to look at an apple after it is cut and exposed to the air. It turns brown. This is free radical damage, which in the human body is partially responsible for aging, cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and other conditions. Every day we are assaulted by free radicals that tax our immune system.
