WHAT IS A FREE RADICAL? AND WHY DO WE RUST?

As is known, all molecules or atoms have an even number of electrons spinning in their orbitals.
But it can also happen that a molecule has an unpaired electron in its outer orbital, which makes it an unstable molecule, which is called a free radical.

These free radicals are highly reactive molecules since they capture an electron from another molecule, converting it into a molecule with an altered structure and function.

If the effect is continuous, a process of “oxidative stress” can be very harmful to health.

How do free radicals damage?

These free radicals damage (oxidize) different cells in our body.

For example:

• In lipid peroxidation, the double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids are susceptible to attack by free radicals, this occurs mainly in cell membranes.
  As a result, this oxidation produces malonyldialdehyde.
• In DNA oxidation, alterations occur in its nitrogenous bases, such as the formation of 8-hydroxyguanosine, which is used as a marker of genetic damage.
• In the case of proteins, the amino acid side chains are the ones that are affected by free radicals.
  Depending on the amino acids affected, the reactions will be reversible or irreversible.
  In the latter case, carbonyl groups are formed, which are used as a marker of protein damage.

And how do we rust?

The oxidative process occurs in our body by different biological processes (enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions) and by external factors to which we are exposed, such as UV rays, chemicals (pesticides), environmental pollution.
Also due to bad habits (smoking, high consumption of processed foods, fast food and fried foods) and the consumption of some medications that are metabolized by the liver.

Oxidation damages our cells and they consequently age earlier

The action of free radicals in our body is not always negative.
For example, defense cells use them to destroy harmful bacteria.

In addition, our body has antioxidant systems (endogenous antioxidants) that help fight them.
These are a series of enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase.

These enzymes are put into operation when they need to defend themselves from a threat, but depending on individual genetics there may be people who do not synthesize them in the right proportion, so they would not be fully protected.

In addition to this, when the production of free radicals is excessive, as they are highly reactive molecules, they quickly damage cells, causing: premature aging and the appearance of diseases.

That is why it can be observed that smokers may have darker skin with pigmented areas (spots), as a result of this oxidation.

Frequent sun exposure also causes blemishes and dryness, resulting in aging skin.
In addition, this chronic exposure over many years can be the cause of melanoma or skin cancer.

Protection against oxidation

Therefore, we must protect ourselves against oxidation and although it seems obvious to say that antioxidants can help, not all of them act in the same way.

As a first step, exposure to these oxidizing substances should be avoided, but since it is not possible 100%, antioxidant substances will have to be provided to the body through a diet rich in foods of plant origin, as they are the best source of natural antioxidants.

These are found in fresh fruits, vegetables and vegetables, harvested at their ripeness.
If they have ripened in the sun, it produces an inverse reaction, that is, it oxidizes these vegetables and in response, they synthesize antioxidants.

For this reason, fruit that does not ripen in the sun will have a lower antioxidant content.

Another way to protect ourselves, acting from the inside

As I have mentioned, by consuming fruits and vegetables we can provide our body with antioxidant substances (exogenous antioxidants).

It is advisable to eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day, and if possible in various colors, since each color represents a type of antioxidant.

For example, purple foods are rich in anthocyanidins, orange foods are rich in carotenes, red foods (tomato) contain lycopene, and so on.

Each with different actions in our body, not only preventing oxidation but also acting as bioactive molecules.

Many people probably wouldn’t need certain medications if they consumed these antioxidants with meals.

This could also exert an epigenetic or genomic action, which would help regulate gene expression to protect our health.

For example, one of the differences between our type of diet and the Asian diet is that we eat based on large pieces and little variation.
For example, grilled chicken with tomato.
Asians use many more ingredients, spices (with a lot of antioxidant capacity) and variety in ingredients in each meal.

It would be interesting in a salad, to add many ingredients such as sprouts and sprouts, seaweed, red fruits, nuts and seeds.

Supplementing your diet

But since all this is difficult to comply with, providing specific antioxidants to protect our body can be a good help.

These antioxidants will contribute to improving vascular health, vision, memory, reducing skin photoaging, etc.

There are food supplements with antioxidant ingredients for skin protection, such as Cell Matrix and PhytoMatrix by Rejuvenal.

Another product that has antioxidant properties is Immun’Age. Through a process of fermentation of the papaya, it allows to obtain an extract that has been studied by numerous prestigious scientists in the world including Prof. Luc Montagnier (Nobel Prize in Medicine), Prof. Francesco Marotta, and Prof. Belpome, among others.

Finally, it may be useful to know our level of free radicals.
To do this, there are tests such as Oxytest that allow us to measure the levels of Malonyldialdehyde in urine, so we can know if our oxidation level is high or low.