FREE RADICLES- Cause aging and diseases while Antioxidants counteract it.

Free radicles are unpaired and unstable atoms that can damage our body cells. Oxidation reaction reduces whole oxygen molecules to water. Partial oxygen reduction leads to Reactive Oxygen Species ROS. It is highly reactive and causes damage to various constituents in the cell. They become unstable and are known as free radicals. If this process continues, it leads to oxidative stress. Antioxidants are substances that neutralize the effect of free radicles and thereby prevent cellular damage.

FREE RADICLES ARE UNPAIRED ELECTRON IN OUTER ORBIT

Oxidative stress can damage the body’s cells, leading to a range of diseases and accelerating the aging process, such as wrinkling of skin and other bodily changes. The body loses its ability to fight the effects of free radicals. This further increases free radical formation which leads to more and more oxidative stress, causing damage to cells. Cumulative effects are degenerative changes and aging.

METABOLISM AND FREE RADICLES. Every action and reaction and neuron firing in the brain requires energy. It is obtained by metabolic processes in the body. There is oxidation of ATP Adenine Triphosphate which is reduced to ADP– Adenine Di Phosphate. This reaction provides energy in the body, by breaking one Phosphate molecule and emitting some free radicles.

FREE RADICLES FROM NORMAL ATP-ADP METABOLISM

EXTERNAL FACTORS CAUSING OXIDATIVE STRESS External Factors that accelerate Free radical formations, are Air Pollution, smoking, ultraviolet rays from the sun, and medical radiation. substances causing inflammatory processes in the body. Medical radiations are X-rays used in diagnosis and gamma rays used in radiotherapy.

EXTERNAL FACTORS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS

EFFECT OF FREE RADICLES Accelerated aging, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia cardiovascular disease, some autoimmune diseases inflammatory disorders rheumatoid, arthritis, and cancers are the effects of free radicle damage. Besides age-related changes such as loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, graying of hair, and hair loss. There is an overall reduction in lifespan due to free-radicle damage.                      ANTIOXIDANTS NEUTRALIZE THE FREE RADICLES. Antioxidants are needed to counteract the harmful effects of free radicles. It may be replenished either in the form of supplements or by natural sources. Natural sources are more effective than supplements Their main function is to break the chain reaction, which creates free radicals. There are three types of antioxidants. 1-1-1-1 –Enzymatic antioxidants 2-Vitamin Antioxidants 3-Mineral Antioxidants. Enzymatic Antioxidants are Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, and Glutathione peroxidase. Vitamins AOx are Tochopherol- Vit E, Beta-carotene,Vit-A, Ascorbic acid Vit-C. Mineral Anti-oxidants are Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, and Selenium. The following are natural sources of antioxidants.

NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS

Thus we see that Free radicles are unstable atoms, which are products of natural metabolism in the body and are also produced from external sources. To remain healthy and youthful we should try to reduce it as far as possible.                                                   Satish Tripathi sctri48