What Are Free Radicals?

We hear this term more and more these days in regard to health and aging, but what is a free radical? Simply put, a free radical is any molecule with a single, unpaired electron. Free radicals are naturally produced in the body through the normal functioning of body systems and various physiochemical conditions, or through exposure to external sources such as pollutants and chemicals, and other environmental agents. There’s no way to avoid them; they’re a result of normal physiological processes.

So why are free radicals bad? A molecule with an unpaired electron is highly unstable and reactive and will seek out other molecules to either rob them of an electron or molecules to which they can give their remaining electron. In doing so a free radical can damage a cell and its important constituents such as proteins, lipids and even DNA, with which free radicals can react. This can lead to overall disruption of our body’s delicate balance, known as homeostasis.

It’s important to note that the production of free radicals by the immune system is integral to the process of ridding the body of pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, so not all free radicals are “bad.” However, over the course of your lifetime free radical damage accumulates, and scientists theorize that this accumulated damage contributes to cellular dysfunction and ultimately to declining health as we age, and is thought to be a significant part of the aging process itself.

The Herbadiet Difference

These days it’s almost impossible to avoid some sort of daily exposure to environmental pollutants, chemicals and other substances that can generate free radicals in our body. Even the simple act of breathing generates these harmful rogue molecules. But you can help minimize their impact on your body and your health with quality free radical scavengers from Herbadiet.

We choose only proven, natural free radical scavengers and antioxidants that are supported by research, and every product we produce is manufactured with our industry leading attention to quality.