Fat Loss 4 Idiots Secret

Friday, April 24, 2009

Meet Mr. Free Radical

By Dr. Lorna Mistranski

The human body is comprised of various kinds of cells and by looking at the body from this perspective is the best way to comprehend what free radicals are.

The chemical bond of a cell is comprised of various types of molecules that are held together with one or more atom.

The composition of an atom is: nucleus, proton, and electrons where the sum of the protons determines the total amount of electrons that will be around the atom.

The primary role of electrons is for chemical reactions that occur inside the atom and the substance that holds the atoms together to form molecules. Electrons revolve around the atom in one or more shells

When the innermost shell has two electrons, it is considered full. When the second shell is full with electrons the process starts all over again.

The number of electrons in an atom's outer shell id the most important structural characteristic.

An atom ideally seeks to have a full outer shell because is what is called maximum stabilty. an atom will seek this state in the following ways:

Adding or dropping electrons that will either fill or empty the atom's shell

Bonding with other atoms to share electrons to complete the outer shell

The most common way atoms achieve stability is with sharing electrons with other atoms. In this way the atom is able to achieve maximum stability.

Frequently, the bonds remain in tact so that the atoms do not become unpaired. However, when this does occur the highly unstable free radicals are formed and they react quickly to obtain their own stability.

Free radicals like to attack by locating the closest cell that has maximum stability and begins to steal electrons. Eventually these attacked molecules become free radicals themselves. The process will continue until eventually cellular damage occurs.

Free radicals will frequently arrive during metabolism and sometimes the body will even produce them to fight off viruses and bacteria. Free radicals also come from pollution such as radiation, cigarette smoke, and pesticides.

Most of the time the body is able to fight off free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable or if there are too many free radicals, cellular damage can occur. As you get older free radical damage gets more progressive. - 17274

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