What are FREE radicals ?
- Jan 26, 2018
- 4 min read
Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage cells and contribute to aging and disease. Antioxidants can counter free radical activity.
什么是自由基？ 自由基是破坏细胞，并有助于延缓衰老和疾病的不稳定分子。 抗氧化剂可以抵抗自由基活性。
Free radicals are atoms, ions, or molecules that contain an unpaired electron. The unpaired electron makes them unstable and highly reactive. In a process called oxidation, free radicals steal electrons from other molecules—fats, proteins, cell membranes, and even DNA—altering the fundamental structure of the affected molecule. One unbalanced molecule may not sound like a major concern, but oxidation sets off a chain reaction by damaging a cell’s DNA, structure, and ability to function. Over time, oxidative damage accumulates and contributes to aging and a variety of degenerative diseases.
自由基是含有不成对电子的原子，离子或分子。 不成对的电子使它们不稳定和高反应性。 在一个称为氧化的过程中，自由基从其他分子 - 电解质，蛋白质，细胞膜，甚至DNA - 改变受影响的分子的基本结构 - 窃取电子。 一个不平衡的分子可能听起来不是一个主要的问题，但氧化通过破坏细胞的DNA，结构和功能来消除链反应。 随着时间的推移，氧化损伤积累并有助于衰老和各种退行性疾病.
Where Do Free Radicals Come From?
There are many types of free radicals, but when we discuss them in a health capacity, we’re referring to those that contain oxygen in the molecule, known collectively as reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Oxygen is an essential element for life, and every cell in your body requires it for cellular metabolism. During cellular metabolism, cells use oxygen to convert food into a form of energy the body can use, called ATP. Free radicals are a natural byproduct of cellular metabolism.
Cellular metabolism is not the only source of free radicals. Free radicals generate and are generated by inflammation, stress, illness, and aging.Hazardous environmental sources such as pollution, toxic metals, alcohol, cigarette smoke, radiation, industrial chemicals, and medications expose us to free radicals.
Completely avoiding free radicals is neither possible nor desirable. At low concentrations, free radicals are beneficial to the human body. Your immune system uses them to help defend itself against pathogens.
As in all things, however, proper balance is critical and problems begin when free radicals are wildly out of balance. When free radicals overwhelm your body, it leads to oxidative stress.
自由基来自哪里？
有许多类型的自由基，但是当我们以健康能力讨论它们时，我们指的是分子中含有氧的物质，统称为活性氧（ROS）。氧气是生命的重要元素，身体中的每一个细胞都需要细胞代谢。在细胞代谢过程中，细胞使用氧气将食物转化为身体可以使用的一种称为ATP的能量形式。自由基是细胞代谢的天然副产物.
细胞代谢不是自由基的唯一来源。自由基产生并由炎症，压力，疾病和衰老引起。危险的环境来源，如污染，有毒金属，酒精，香烟烟雾，辐射，工业化学品和药物使我们自由基。
完全避免自由基既不可能也不可取。在低浓度下，自由基对人体有益。您的免疫系统使用它们来帮助防御病原体。然而，在所有情况下，适当的平衡是至关重要的，当自由基失去平衡时，问题就开始了。当自由基压倒你的身体时，会导致氧化应激。
What Is Oxidative Stress?
Oxidative stress is the oxidative damage that results from an imbalance between free radicals and your body’s store of antioxidants. According to the free radical theory of aging (FRTA), organisms age because of accumulated free radical damage to cells and DNA. The theory states that cumulative damage to cell components and connective tissue leads to wrinkles, decreased physical capability, increased susceptibility to disease, and death.[5] Though the free radical theory of aging remains controversial, oxidative stress contributes to degenerative conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and more.
什么是氧化应激？
氧化应激是由自由基与您身体的抗氧化剂储存之间的不平衡引起的氧化损伤。根据自由基衰老理论（FRTA），有机体由于对细胞和DNA的积累自由基的损害而衰老。该理论指出，对细胞组分和结缔组织的累积损伤导致皱纹，身体能力下降，对疾病的易感性和死亡。[5]虽然自由基衰老理论仍然存在争议，但氧化应激有助于退行性疾病，如关节炎，心脏病，高血压，阿尔茨海默病，帕金森病，肌营养不良症等。
The Power of Antioxidants Against Free Radicals
Free radicals forage through your body looking for electrons to steal (or give away) and they aren’t picky. They need pairs of electrons in order to be stable and they frantically seek molecules to achieve this. Free radicals will take (or leave) an electron, whether it’s available or not, including those in fragile DNA molecules, proteins, and fats. Antioxidants stop free radical damage to molecules[6] by accepting or donating an electron to make it stable. Antioxidants are unique in that they remain stable when they donate an electron. Antioxidants sources are often discussed in terms of their free radical scavenging abilities. The “free radical scavenging activity” of antioxidants varies from one to the next.
抗氧化剂抗自由基的力量
自由基通过你的身体寻找电子来窃取（或放弃），而不是挑剔。他们需要成对的电子才能稳定，并且他们疯狂地寻求分子来实现这一点。自由基将会（或离开）电子，无论是否可用，包括脆弱的DNA分子，蛋白质和脂肪中的那些。抗氧化剂通过接受或捐赠电子来阻止分子的自由基损伤[6]。抗氧化剂是独特的，因为它们在给予电子时保持稳定。抗氧化剂来源通常以其自由基清除能力来讨论。抗氧化剂的“自由基清除活性”从一个到另一个不同。
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