What are antioxidants easy language?
What are antioxidants easy language?
An antioxidant is a molecule that can slow or stop the oxidation, or electron transfer, of other molecules. Antioxidants can be found in food. Antioxidants are molecules that relieve oxidative stress by preventing the formation and oxidation of free radicals.
What is the best source of antioxidants?
Broccoli, spinach, carrots and potatoes are all high in antioxidants, and so are artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale. Using lots of spices in cooking is good.
What is free radicals in body?
Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. The uneven number allows them to easily react with other molecules. Free radicals can cause large chain chemical reactions in your body because they react so easily with other molecules. These reactions are called oxidation.
What does free radical mean?
Listen to pronunciation. (free RA-dih-kul) A type of unstable molecule that is made during normal cell metabolism (chemical changes that take place in a cell). Free radicals can build up in cells and cause damage to other molecules, such as DNA, lipids, and proteins.
What is a free radical in biology?
Free radical. A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron (Afzal & Armstrong, 2002). The molecule is reactive and seeks another electron to pair. Free radicals are involved in the mechanisms of damage associated with disease development (Rice-Evans, 1999).
What are the best ways to combat free radicals?
The best way to combat free radicals is to have a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, red wine, and green tea. These functional foods are rich in phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. Health supplements enriched with antioxidants are also now widely available.
What are antioxidants and how do they work?
Antioxidants are molecules that relieve oxidative stress by preventing the formation and oxidation of free radicals. Antioxidants donate one of their electrons or hydrogen to free radicals, stopping their chain reaction.
What is the free radical theory of aging (FRTA)?
The free radical theory of aging (FRTA) states that organisms age because cells accumulate free radical damage over time. A free radical is any atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron in an outer shell.