Free Radicals & Antioxidants!

            Antioxidants are helpful little buggers! They fight off free radical damage. Free radical damage is found in cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants, radiant, ultraviolet light, certain drugs, pesticides, anesthetics, industrial solvents, exercising, metabolism and the ozone. Free Radicals are involved in cell signaling processing, and intracellular killing of bacteria, however when there is an extra amount of free radicals, than the body actually needs, the free radicals start damaging or killing our good, healthy cells. Also free radicals are thought to be the root of many cancers, diseases and even the symptoms of aging.

Basically free radicals are unpaired electrons. Most electrons follow the buddy rule, and are always connected or holding hands, you could say. Unfortunately the free radical is a rule breaker, and is unstable. Because they do not have a buddy of their own they try to steal everyone else's, creating problems. When there are extra free radicals in the body, and they start stealing electrons from good, healthy, and stable molecules, they start a chain reaction of damaging one molecule after another.If this continuously happens the body definitely suffers some damages.

            However, the good lord gave us antioxidants and enzymes to fight off the free radical damage! Antioxidants and enzymes in our bodies help reduce and repair all the damage from free radicals. If you break it down, antioxidants sacrifice themselves for the sake of our cells. They give themselves to the free radicals that are looking to steal a buddy. Basically, antioxidants keep the free radicals from damaging our cells by being available to bond to them instead. Some antioxidants are produced in our bodies or can be obtained through foods or supplements.
 Antioxidants can be found in many sources, such as;
           

·         Vitamin A: citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, strawberries

·         Vitamin E: nuts and seeds, green leafy vegetables, whole grains

·         Grape Seed Extract

·         Lignans: flaxseed, oatmeal, barley

·         Vitamin A and Carotenoids: carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, etc.

·         Selenium:  fish, garlic

·         Flavonoids: pomegranate, cranberries