Research Notes on Free Radicals
Free Radicals are molecules that have a single unpaired electron on their outer level. Molecules are the building blocks of our body's cells; if the molecule is a free radical, it will try to pair the lone electron on its outer shell by sharing an electron with another molecule. As a result, this free radical steals the electron from the sharing molecule, therefore creating another free radical. This can start a chain reaction that will disrupt the formation of the cell.
Fast Facts:
- Free radicals occur naturally in metabolism, combating viruses, or as a result of pollutants.
- Antioxidants are molecules that are capable of preventing free radical damage to healthy molecules.
- The body can handle free radicals as long as antioxidants are available and the free radical formation is not too excessive.
5 Great Resources on Free Radicals
- Rice University: Antioxidants and Free Radicals
- Wikipedia: Radical (chemistry)
- Healing Daily: Free Radicals and Your Health
- Health Check Systems: Understanding Free Radicals and Antioxidants
5 Latest Headlines on Free Radicals
What are Free Radicals?
- WiseGeek: What are Free Radicals?
- ExRx: Free Radical Introduction
- Food as Food: Free Radicals
What Are The Causes and Complications of Free Radicals?
- Wikipedia: Free-radical theory
- AARP: How Free Radicals Can Harm the Brain
- EZ Healthy Diet: The Dangers Of Free Radical Damage
What Are The Treatments and Medications for Free Radicals?
- Healthnotes (via VitaCost): Antioxidants and Free Radicals
- Medline Plus: Antioxidants
What Are The Holistic and Alternative Treatments for Free Radicals?
- Food as Food: Healthy Foods Which Fight Free Radicals
- Body and Fitness: Fight Against Free Radicals
- Colorado State University: Good Food Sources Of Antioxidants
How Do You Prevent Free Radicals?
- Down's Syndrome Research Foundation Ltd: What are Antioxidants?
- World's Healthiest Foods: Blueberries
- High Beam Encyclopedia: The Propitious Effects of Antioxidants in Preventing Free-radical Cell Damage
Wisdom, Blogs, and Message Boards about Free Radicals
- Antioxidant Express Weblog: Free Radicals Are Unpaired Electrons
- Dr. Jarret Morrow: No Free Ride When it Comes to Free Radicals…
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group: Consequences of Poor Digestion--Free Radicals, from Revolution Health
Scientific and Medical Journal Articles on Free Radicals
- PubMed Central: Free Radical Articles
- JAMA: Archives of Free Radical Research
- Google Scholar: Articles on Free Radicals
Clinical Trials on Free Radicals
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Free Radicals Clinical Trial Listings
- CenterWatch: Clinical Trials on Free Radicals
User Recommended Links for Free Radicals
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About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: KevinB
- Reviewer: Tara
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Oct. 1, 2008
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