Free Radicales Overview

What are "free radicals," exactly? They aren't young, free-thinking activists, for one thing, but that's not too far off either: free radicals are essentially atoms gone rogue. Normally, when atoms split off from a molecule, each one leaves with the correct number of electrons for its size in its outer shell, but when they're missing an electron, they go berserk, "looking" all over the place for an electron to steal. And if they do manage to steal an electron, they end up disturbing the electron balance in a different molecule, subsequently creating more free radicals out of the unluckiest atoms in the group.

When Free Radicals Are Out of Balance:

When this happens too much within a living cell, it can lead to its destruction, and set off a chain reaction that disturbs even more cells. So how does the human body counteract this phenomenon? By regularly consuming antioxidant-rich foods, you'll allow antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, to help restore the balance to these imbalanced atoms by donating their own electrons to the cause — all without becoming free radicals themselves. Antioxidants are natural vitamins widely found in raw fruits and vegetables, as well as green tea and other herbal products. So eat your five-a-day, and keep diseases like cancer and heart disease at bay.

How to Fix Free Radicals:

OPCs — or oligomeric proanthocyanidins — are natural vitamins found in highly antioxidant-rich food, such as grape seed and pine bark. Isotonix® OPC-3 is a supplement that combines the antioxidants from several of these OPC-containing fruits and vegetables into one single solution that is easily absorbed into the bloodstream. So if you live in a highly polluted area, or are concerned about other environmental factors leaving a detrimental effect on your health, you may want to consider the benefits of natural vitamins like OPC-3. Antioxidants are most easily absorbed from raw food, but for many people, supplements are necessary part of ensuring they get enough natural vitamins in their diet.

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