Free Radicals and the Human Body
By Dr. Lorna Mistranski
The best way to fully comprehend what free radicals are is to look at them from a cellular level in that the human body is made up of all kinds of cells.
The chemical bond of a cell is comprised of various types of molecules that are held together with one or more atom.
Atoms are comprised of protons, neutrons, and electrons whereby the total amount of protons that are in the nucleus determine how many electrons will surround them.
The role of the electrons is to manage chemical reactions that occur inside the atom as well as the substances that makes the atoms form molecules. Much like planets, electrons revolve around the atom in one or more shells.
A atom is considered full when two electrons occupy the innermost layer. When the second layer is filled with electrons, the process starts all over again
The most important structural characteristic of an atom for determining its chemical behavior is the number of electrons in its outer shell.
A substance that has a full outer shell tends not to enter in chemical reactions. Ultimately, atoms seek to reach a state of maximum stability, an atom will try to fill its outer shell by:
Picking up or dropping electrons that will either occupy or leave the outer shell
Attaching to other atoms in a attempt to share electrons to have a complete outer shell
The most common way atoms achieve stability is with sharing electrons with other atoms. In this way the atom is able to achieve maximum stability.
Often, the bonds that the atoms form remain in tact so that maximum stability is maintained. However, when these bonds do tear, the highly unstable free radical is born and swiftly seeks to make itself more stable.
Free radicals like to attack by locating the closest cell that has maximum stability and begins to steal electrons. Eventually these attacked molecules become free radicals themselves. The process will continue until eventually cellular damage occurs.
The process of metabolism is frequently when free radicals occur and sometimes even when fighting off viruses and bacteria. Other producers of free radicals derive from pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, and pesticides.
Typically, the body is able to handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. Most importantly is that free radical damage accumulates with age.
The best way to fully comprehend what free radicals are is to look at them from a cellular level in that the human body is made up of all kinds of cells.
The chemical bond of a cell is comprised of various types of molecules that are held together with one or more atom.
Atoms are comprised of protons, neutrons, and electrons whereby the total amount of protons that are in the nucleus determine how many electrons will surround them.
The role of the electrons is to manage chemical reactions that occur inside the atom as well as the substances that makes the atoms form molecules. Much like planets, electrons revolve around the atom in one or more shells.
A atom is considered full when two electrons occupy the innermost layer. When the second layer is filled with electrons, the process starts all over again
The most important structural characteristic of an atom for determining its chemical behavior is the number of electrons in its outer shell.
A substance that has a full outer shell tends not to enter in chemical reactions. Ultimately, atoms seek to reach a state of maximum stability, an atom will try to fill its outer shell by:
Picking up or dropping electrons that will either occupy or leave the outer shell
Attaching to other atoms in a attempt to share electrons to have a complete outer shell
The most common way atoms achieve stability is with sharing electrons with other atoms. In this way the atom is able to achieve maximum stability.
Often, the bonds that the atoms form remain in tact so that maximum stability is maintained. However, when these bonds do tear, the highly unstable free radical is born and swiftly seeks to make itself more stable.
Free radicals like to attack by locating the closest cell that has maximum stability and begins to steal electrons. Eventually these attacked molecules become free radicals themselves. The process will continue until eventually cellular damage occurs.
The process of metabolism is frequently when free radicals occur and sometimes even when fighting off viruses and bacteria. Other producers of free radicals derive from pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, and pesticides.
Typically, the body is able to handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. Most importantly is that free radical damage accumulates with age.
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