What are Free Radicals?

Do you know what free radicals in chemistry are? Free radicals are unstable atoms that can cause damage to cells, and lead to disease and ageing. Not much is known about free radicals, or how to stop them from making people ill. A free radical is when an atom has an outermost shell that's not full, it can bond with another atom to use the electrons to fill its valence shell. Full valence atoms are stable, but free radicals are unstable and in an attempt to fill the number of electrons in their outer shell, they quickly react with different substances.

Central nervous system diseases like Alzheimer’s and other dementias, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune and inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and cancer are all linked to free radicals, along with cataracts and weak vision from ageing, diabetes, and genetic degenerative diseases like Huntington's or Parkinson's disease.

Oxygen molecules are an example when split into single atoms with odd electrons. They turn unstable free radicals that pursue other atoms or molecules to bond with. If this keeps happening, it starts oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress harms the cells of the body, leading to a scope of illnesses and generating signs of ageing, like wrinkles. This suggests that free radicals break down cells overtime.

The ability to fight the effects of free radicals is weakened with ageing. This results in more free radicals, oxidative stress, and harm to cells, leading to degenerative processes and standard ageing.

It's likely that free radicals are a premature alert of cells opposing disease, or that free radical building is unavoidable with age. Without more research, it's impossible to comprehend the issue of free radicals completely.

To fend off free radical ageing, the origins of free radicals should be avoided, like pollution and fried food. Focusing on a healthy, proportional diet without stressing about increasing antioxidants would be helpful to fend off the effects.