The imbalance between production of free radicals and antioxidant defense causes oxidative stress leading to organ damage.

Happen in our bodies without us noticing, countless chemical reactions. Processes such as breathing, feeding, movement and everything that our bodies and our minds made up based on chemical reactions. Following some of these reactions originate very special compounds called free radicals. ” These molecules are extremely unstable and search elements with which to react. In this mechanism, as a free radical can be detrimental to the cells, which are the building blocks of all organs and all parts of our body. Antioxidants are substances that combine with free radicals, thereby preventing cells from damage.

Can you prevent free radical production?

No, its production is inevitable, what to look for is to defend them. One way of defense is to avoid situations that produce too much. According to the Lawyer M. Licata of zonadiet.com, would be: very intense exercise, stress, consumption of snuff, alcohol, breathing polluted air and excessive sun exposure. Also we must add the intake of hydrogenated oils like margarine or foods containing it and the consumption of trans fatty acids, abundant in red meats.

The fight invisible

Our body is fighting against free radicals any time of day. The problem for our health occurs when the tissues have to bear an excess of free radicals for years. According to Yoel Lopez Trujillo of the Higher Institute of Military Medicine in Cuba these free radicals collide with a biomolecule and you subtract one electron, rusting, thus losing its specific function in the cell. ” In the case of lipid cell membranes are damaged, if there is a protein fragmentation and loss of the specific function of the protein. If damaged nucleic acids that form DNA and RNA, develop mutations that lead to cancer development or loss of gene expression.

The known negative effects consecuenciasLos oxidative stress leads to an aging of various tissues due to cell death. The most vulnerable areas are the skin, brain, cardiovascular system and vision.

The skin area that receives more attack many toxic agents producing free radicals, like the sun, pollution and cigarette smoke. It is often the first indicator of our age and of good or bad treatment we have given to our body. With aging are wrinkles, sunspots and skin becomes dry. But all these signs will be milder if we care properly.

The Center for Medical Research, Giron said that the “oxidative balance disorders caused by exposure to solar UV as a causal agent in the increasing incidence (approximately 6% annually) of skin malignancies.

The brain

Symptoms of aging are manifested as loss of mental capacity, slow reaction, difficulty learning and forgetting things move dates and names. Diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, alcoholic neuropathy, hyperoxia, ischemia, or stroke, are associated with free radicals attack the cells. Current studies seek to test vitamin E (which is an antioxidant substance) and neuroprotection in neurodegenerative disease operated Alzhemier.

According to a study by French researchers, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, people who eat foods rich in flavonoids (antioxidants found in red wine, tea or carrots), appear to be better protected against mental decline associated with aging. The study included 1640 healthy people over 65 years. Those who had higher intake of flavonoids, showed a slower mental decline than those with lower intake of these antioxidants.