Insider’s Guide to Free Radicals

Damage from free radicals requires becoming more mindful of our diet.

Free radicals are molecules with a missing electron. They seek out sources from which they can steal an electron.

After they get an electron, the donor molecule is often damaged. When this electron shuffling is widespread it can become a major health problem.

Oxidative stress from free radicals is a natural process. Our body uses it when we exercise or fight an infection. It’s a normal part of the body’s intricate system of keeping itself healthy.

Yet, when there are too many free radicals, problems can result. It can contribute to a variety of modern day inflammatory diseases. Conditions such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart disease and high blood pressure can result. Even Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and many neurological diseases are implicated.

The solution? Antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules that can donate an electron without making themselves unstable. This causes the free radical to stabilise and become less reactive.

The good news is that there are two key strategies we can use to fight free radicals.

Reduce Exposure – Look for ways to reduce the oxidative stress on your body. This can include reducing your exposure to ozone, pesticides, tobacco smoke and pollution. Reduce alcohol and sugar in all its many forms.

Increase Antioxidants – Our body relies on the foods we eat to provide antioxidants. Damage from free radicals requires becoming more mindful of our diet. Consider adding grapes, blueberries, nuts, dark green vegetables, root vegetables, beans and fish. Limit processed meats such as sausages, bacon and salami.

As with so many things in the body, we need balance. We need the right amount of free radicals, and the right amount of antioxidants to keep them in check.