The Free Radical Problem

You've seen apples turn brown in air, and rust form on metal. In your body, instead of turning brown or forming rust, when oxygen reacts with compounds during the energy-making process, "free radicals" are produced.

While these free radicals are produced naturally, other free radicals can enter your body from toxins and other pollutants. UV radiation, radon, pesticides, metals, food additives, and other environmental pollutants all contribute free radicals to your body.

These free radicals are unbalanced molecules that steal electrons from your healthy cells, destabilizing them and causing a chain reaction of damage. The widespread damaging effects of these free radicals is referred to as "oxidative stress."