Final answer:
Free radicals are compounds that can damage DNA, proteins, and cell membranes, potentially leading to diseases such as cancer. The body uses antioxidants like vitamins C and E to neutralize these harmful substances and prevent the damage they cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
Free radicals are electron-seeking compounds that can react with DNA, proteins, and fats, potentially mutating genes and damaging cell membranes. They are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons that can oxidize other molecules, leading to cellular damage. Free radicals are involved in various destructive processes including cancer and coronary artery disease.
To defend against the harm caused by free radicals, the body utilizes antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E, as well as the provitamin ß-carotene. These substances neutralize toxic radicals by donating atoms or electrons to break propagation chain reactions, transforming them into less reactive molecules that are more easily excreted before causing further damage.
In particular, vitamin E acts as a radical scavenger in fats, while vitamin C serves this function in the blood. The presence of adequate antioxidants in the body is critical to prevent damage from free radicals, which can be exacerbated by environmental factors like radiation and pollution in addition to metabolic reactions.