Kangen Water™
What
Are Free Radicals? |
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Free
radicals are molecules that are very reactive and unstable because they
contain an electron that is unpaired with another electron in their
molecular structure.
Electrons are most stable
when paired together. The free radical tries to stabilize
itself
by connecting itself to cell membranes within the body, thereby robbing
the cell membrane molecules of electrons. This attack
automatically then generates another unstable free radical, which then
starts a chain reaction that eventually leads to the
cell dying.
Free
radicals are formed in the body naturally. For an example:
byproducts of regular metabolism, the breakdown of
bacteria
by white blood cells, etc. Free radicals are also formed without of the
body by pollution, cigarette smoke and many other processes.
These free radicals will then enter the body through the
breathing, the skin and other ways. Even oxygen can start a
free radical chain reaction in our bodies.
A good example
of oxygen free radical damage can be seen when an apple is
sliced
in half and left out in the air. Within a short amount of time what
happens? - the apple begins to turn brown. The browning is caused by
free radical damage which will eventually errode and destroy
the
fruit. These unstable free radicals [whether within or bodies or from
without] rob electrons from other molecules so they can make themselves
more stable. While this is occurring, they often cause damage
to cells and metabolic processes within the body and many
times
turn the very molecules they attacked into free radicals and a
chain reaction can begin. This process is named oxidation and it occurs
all the time in our bodies.
Free Radical
Damage
Free
radicals have been implicated in many diseases and a
partial
list includes arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, kidney
disease, cataracts, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, lung
dysfunction; pancreatitis; drug reactions, skin lesions, and aging, to
mention a few. Not to mention heart disease and cancer.
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