What can neutralize the effects of free radicals before they cause much damage?

Blueberries, pomegranates, green tea, and dark chocolate—these are just some of the antioxidant-rich "superfoods" found in almost any supermarket today. As well as improving our general health, there is growing evidence that diets high in antioxidants may confer some protection against a long list of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and even HIV. Given their increasing popularity, the fundamental question bears asking: What exactly are antioxidants, and how do they work in our bodies?

Antioxidants come in several forms, including the vitamins A, C, and E; plant-derived polyphenols, found in colorful fruits and vegetables; and also the element selenium, found in nuts and broccoli. "What these compounds share," explains K. Sandeep Prabhu, Penn State assistant professor of immunology and molecular toxicology, "is the ability to neutralize harmful molecules in our cells."

These harmful molecules, known as free radicals, contain unpaired electrons—which is unusual because electrons typically come in pairs. "The unpaired electrons make free radicals highly reactive, and in this state, they can cause damage by attacking the components of our cells, and can even cause cancer," Prabhu says.

So where do free radicals come from? Some are created as a natural by-product of reactions in our cells, says Prabhu. Other sources of free radicals include cigarette smoke, air pollution, and exposure to UV light or radiation. And once free radicals are formed, they can make more free radicals by scavenging electrons from other molecules, "creating a domino effect," he adds.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals either by providing the extra electron needed to make the pair, or by breaking down the free radical molecule to render it harmless. "Antioxidants stop the chain reaction of free radical formation and benefit our health by boosting our immune system ," explains Prabhu. Because antioxidants are used up in the process of free radical neutralization, a diet rich in antioxidants is essential to ensure a constant supply.

Research has shown that antioxidants can have an important impact on serious diseases. In one recent study, the addition of a polyphenol-rich blueberry gel to the diet of oral cancer patients prevented recurrence of the cancer. Another experiment demonstrated that increased levels of selenium in the diets of a group of HIV-positive patients significantly delayed progression of the disease.

In light of these impressive results, should everyone be taking antioxidant diet supplements? Prabhu warns that there can be too much of a good thing: "As with most things, excessive levels of antioxidants can be toxic." Furthermore, he stresses, "We don't yet fully understand the mechanisms by which selenium and other antioxidants work, and so we must be cautious about prescribing diets high in these elements." In the Prabhu Lab, work is currently underway to discover how selenium works, with the goal of introducing selenium as a therapy for HIV.

The take-home message? A diet containing a balance of the various forms of antioxidants will maintain overall good health, and could even impact serious diseases. For instance, the American Cancer Society encourages people to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and emphasizes the benefits of getting your antioxidants through foods rather than supplements. Prabhu himself makes sure he gets the recommended daily allowance of selenium by eating a few brazil nuts everyday. "The key," says Prabhu, " is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts to ensure that we are taking advantage of all the health benefits that antioxidants can provide."

K. Sandeep Prabhu, Ph.D., is assistant professor of Immunology and Molecular Toxicology in the College of Agricultural Sciences, .

Last Updated August 18, 2008

Carrie Gabriel, MS, RDN, explains why free radicals are bad for your health. Plus: three ways to reduce free radicals in the body to support long-term wellness.

Your body might be exposed to everyday sources of pollution and other toxins and be able to fend those off, but pesky free radicals can steadily contribute to long-term side effects, including mental health effects, premature aging, and other health concerns. What are free radicals exactly, and what do they do to the body?

Here’s everything you need to know about how to protect yourself from free radical damage.

What Are Free Radicals?

The definition of free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage the cells in your body. They often occur as a result of normal metabolic processes, as well as environmental stressors. As we age, the body loses its ability to combat the effects of free radicals. This results in more free radicals, cell damage, and oxidative stress. (Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radical production and the body’s ability to neutralize or detoxify the resulting damage.) Exposure to free radicals and resulting damage leads to degenerative processes in the body, including aging.

The Free Radical Theory of Aging

According to the free radical theory of aging, free radicals break down cells over time.

Numerous studies support this theory. The research suggests that free radicals produced in the mitochondria—the powerhouse of our cells—damage the substances that the cell needs to work properly. This damage causes mutations that produce more free radicals, thus accelerating damage to the cell.

This theory helps explain aging, since aging accelerates over time. It offers one explanation on why healthy bodies age and deteriorate as years pass.

Why Are Free Radicals Bad?

In addition to premature aging, numerous undesired issues are associated with the accumulation of free radicals in the body. The side effects of free radicals include skin, digestion, and mental health issues.

Skin Damage

What are free radicals in skin? Well, when it comes to our skin, free radicals cause direct damage to our skin’s DNA, which results in accelerated skin aging. Free radicals can cause cell damage and may appear in several forms on your skin, including:

• Premature wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Uneven skin tone
• Dull skin

Over time, these side effects of free radicals on your skin can grow to be more noticeable. It’s also worth noting that UV rays are the primary contributors to free radicals in skin, providing yet another good reason to apply SPF daily.

Digestive Issues

Free radicals in foods can disrupt digestion. Oxidative stress is greater when you consume specific types of foods, which can be influenced by the way in which they’re prepared or cooked.

In addition to the free radicals we create naturally through digestion, the biggest dietary culprits of free radicals include processed foods, fried foods, and alcohol.

Mental Health Concerns

Free radicals play a major role in several mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, by altering fats, proteins, and DNA.

Because the brain is a fat-rich environment, it’s highly receptive to oxidative stress and imbalances. For that reason, it can easily be damaged or compromised.

Certain Types of Cancer

Since free radicals cause oxidative stress, this causes damage to cells–if too many healthy cells die, it can lead to cancer cell development into a tumor. However, it gets complicated, as certain chemotherapy treatments have oxidative stress as a byproduct in order to eradicate a tumor. 

Sources of Free Radicals

We encounter free radicals daily through different means. Here are some of their major sources of formation.

Free Radicals In the Body

As previously mentioned, our bodies create these unstable molecules through normal, essential metabolic processes. For instance, when your body uses oxygen, it creates free radicals as a byproduct and results in oxidative stress.

Also, we can create them as we eat and digest food. It’s also worth noting that overeating further increases free radical production. As we eat more, our cells release more activated oxygen than normal, generating higher levels of free radicals.

Free Radicals In Food

Free radicals are found in certain foods, namely:

• Fried foods
• Refined carbohydrates
• Sugars and sweets
• Alcohol

While free radicals do not occur naturally in most foods, they can develop under certain storage and cooking conditions.

For example, deep frying and cooking with lots of fats and oils can lead to the process of oxidation because of the air and heat exposure. Foods that are high in fat and oil content are more prone to oxidation when they’re improperly stored or cooked at high temperatures. 

Additionally, foods with preservatives like sausage, bacon, and salami produce more free radicals. Red meat is a notable free radical generator because it has high iron content, which makes it vulnerable to oxidation.

Environmental Exposure

Finally, there are many environmental sources that produce free radicals, including exposure to:

• Air pollutants
• Cigarette smoke
• Pesticides
• UV rays
• Ozone
• Industrial chemicals

How To Reduce Free Radicals In The Body

Some level of oxidative stress is inevitable. However, there are easy, natural ways to reduce free radicals in the body and stave off oxidative stress.

Eat Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Antioxidants—healthful compounds in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats—can help by neutralizing free radicals.

Foods that pack beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein particularly aid in free radical reduction. These include:

• Tomatoes
• Corn
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Collard greens
• Apples
• Mangoes
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Additionally, other antioxidant foods with more than one vitamin include spinach, beets, red bell peppers, figs, blueberries, and dark chocolate.

Exercise Regularly

Secondly, studies show that regular exercise alleviates the negative effects of cell damage. Of course, exercise also offers countless overall health benefits, ranging from a reduced risk of mortality causes to a better mood and weight management.

But wait, does exercise cause free radicals? Just note that exercise and free radicals have a nuanced relationship. Exercise at a high-intensity level can contribute to oxidative stress in the body because of muscle fatigue and an increased demand for oxygen once you’re breathing heavily. Fortunately, frequent exercise is also suggested to improve the body’s ability to shield itself against oxidative stress. It can lower free radical production and boost the amount of antioxidant activity since antioxidants reduce free radicals. 

Take the Right Supplements

Last but not least, antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, certain phytonutrients, and polyphenols all help neutralize free radicals. For a daily insurance policy against cell damage, HUM’s Air Patrol can help meet your antioxidant needs.

What can neutralize effects of free radicals?

Which of the following can neutralize the effect of free radicals before they cause much damage?

Which of the following can neutralize the effects of free radicals before they cause much damage quizlet?