What are Free Radicals?

• A free radical is an unstable molecule that loses one of its electrons and therefore becomes unbalanced and highly reactive.
  
  
• Free radicals damage healthy cells and in turn impair the body’s normal functions.

What are the Results of Free Radical Damage (oxidation)?

Cell death and injury - Free radicals penetrate the cell wall and kill or damage the cell.  Free   radicals injure cells making them more vulnerable to infection and degenerative disease.

DNA damage - Free radicals damage the DNA causing future cell reproduction to be deformed and cells to function poorly.  This may result in the “chain reaction” of mutated cells which we recognize as cancer.

Joint inflammation - Free radicals make bone, muscle and connective tissue far more stiff and brittle than healthy tissues.  Once tissue is damaged it becomes a “factory” multiplying free radicals hundreds of times.  This slows the healing process because new “healing replacement cells” and existing tissue cells are attacked by more of the free radicals.

How are Free Radicals Produced?

• normal respiration & metabolism
• exposure to air pollutants
• sun exposure
• radiation from X-rays
• drugs
• viruses
• bacteria
• parasites
• dietary fats
• stress
• injury

Health Problems Related to Free Radicals

• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Kidney and liver disorders
• Vascular disorders
• Weakened immune system
• Poor Vision and Loss of Hearing
• Skin Conditions       
• Inflammation