Effects of free radicals on health
We know that antioxidants, in one way or another, tend to protect our body from the harmful and tremendously negative action of free radicals.
Some very unstable and reactive atoms on which, surely, at some point you have heard or read something about them.
The truth is that more and more people know each other effects of free radicals on health, an added advantage when we want to take care of our health and avoid the harmful action of them. However, we must not forget that the best way to take care of ourselves is to consume antioxidant-rich foods.
What are the free radicals?
Explained more or less simply (and above all, understandable), the free radicals they are reactive and extremely unstable atoms - usually oxygen - that originate as a chemical reaction of our body due to the use of food.
Due, mainly, to the fact that the cells of our body, as you surely know, require oxygen to function.
Although free radicals They can intervene in different physiological cellular functions beneficial to the organism, the truth is that they have a great potential to damage both our cells and the genetic material they contain, mainly because they are able to react very quickly with different molecules.
Effects of free radicals on health
There are several effects of free radicals. We summarize below the most important ones:
- Emergence of cancer
- Conditions and cardiac disorders.
- Nervous system problems.
- Immune system problems.
- Arthritis.
- Vision problems, such as cataracts.
These are the main ones, although it is known that they can contribute to the development of more than sixty degenerative diseases.
External sources of free radicals
Although our organism, more specifically our metabolic activity, generates free radicals, there are also external sources that we should avoid to the best of our ability:
- Snuff smoke.
- The alcohol.
- Diet rich in saturated fats.
- Diet low or poor in antioxidants.
- Ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure.
- Environmental pollution.
- Ionizing radiation from radiology devices.
