Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are naturally formed when you
exercise and when your body converts food into energy. Your body can also be
exposed to free radicals from a variety of environmental sources, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and sunlight.
Free radicals can cause “
oxidative stress,” a process that can trigger cell damage.
The body is under constant attack from
oxidative
stress which is thought to play a role in a variety of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.”
Electrons like to be in pairs, so these atoms, called free radicals, scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair. This causes damage to cells, proteins and DNA.