We are fighting a battle in our body for diseases such as cancer and heart. One of the enemies to control is free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that attack somatic cells and the immune system. Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize the effects of these free radicals and prevent chain reactions that can cause cancer, heart diseases and premature aging.
Free radicals that cause oxidation are mainly oxygen-derived metabolites (superoxide anions O2-, hydrogen peroxide H2O2, hydroxyl radical OH0), hypochloric acid, chloramines, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and lipid peroxides. They are formed by organisms inside the cell, in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, or extracellularly, especially by phagocytes.
Free radical formation is caused by cigarettes, hebicides and pesticides, solvents, petrochemicals, drugs, sunlight, X-rays, and even some compounds found in food. Even exercises cause free radical formation with the increase in oxygen usage.
