This
is not the first time that you are reading about
free radicals and it certainly will not be the last.
Let us first define the term. A free radical is
basically a highly unstable substance that is still
in a free state. It will drastically (hence the
term “radical”) react with its surroundings to achieve
stability. Once this is achieved it will no more
be in a free state. However, the molecule nearest
to it becomes a free radical, setting a chain of
radical formation. However, free radicals, while
always construed as the “bad guys”, are also extremely
important to metabolic activity. The villain is
oxygen. Yes, the stuff that is vital to life can
also snuff it. It fans metabolism and gives you
the energy to read this. In your body, oxygen becomes
harmful when it is combines with a free radical.
The free radical that contains a single oxygen is
missing an electron. It will not rest until it replaces
this electron. Generally, the only place it can
get this electron is from a neighboring molecule.
This reaction takes a millionth of a second. Polio
vaccine is given to children at a health center
in Bhopal,India. Thousands of children are being
given polio vaccines as part of a drive to eradicate
the disease from the country,which represents 70%of
the world's polio cases,according to the World Health
Organization.
Chain
reaction
The “robbed” molecule becomes a free radical and
soon a “chain reaction” is initiated. Your body
has trillions of free radicals attacking healthy
cells. When the scavenging goes unchecked, the casualties
mount. Over time, this accumulation of free radical
hits on your cells results in what many scientists
in the forefront of research now believe leads to
all chronic disease and aging. We can see the effects
of free radical damage outside the body everyday.
Cut apples turn brown. Butter turns rancid. Iron
parts of your car start to rust. The damage in the
body is more horrible, though not visible. Free
radicals can permanently damage your DNA (gene map)
and cause mutation of cells that can cause amongst
other things, cancer. In the artery walls, you can
change the fat structure, causing hardening of the
arteries. Collagen of the skin can be damaged, leading
to sagging, wrinkles and crow’s feet. Some 60 diseases
are now known to be associated with free radicals.
Among them are heart disease, cancer, cataracts,
arthritis, diabetes, age related mental decline
and even Parkinson’s.
Systems
Free radicals are both those produced in the cell
and those that are produced outside it. There are
free radicals that exist in nature. Your body knows
them and has systems to handle them. Then, even
worse, there are those that are synthetic – introduced
recently by our civilization. They come from chemicals
that have made our lives “easier and better”. Things
like chemical colours, flavours and aromas. There
are taste enhancers, preservatives and processed
foods. In a similar vein, our make up, perfumes
and deodorants also contribute to our free radical
load. Drugs, especially agents used in cancer chemotherapy,
are horrible free radicals. This is further compounded
by pollution – water and air. As the hole in the
ozone widens, we are exposed even more to the sun’s
ionizing radiation. The life of a free radical has
three stages: initiation, propagation and termination.
Free radicals are terminated and neutralized by
nutrient anti-oxidants and enzymatic systems. The
quest is to find a delicate balance between free
radical activity and optimum anti-oxidant therapy
– thus achieving homeostasis.
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