Final answer:
Free radicals are produced by air pollution, normal metabolism, and intense exercise. They are highly reactive due to free unpaired electrons, causing cellular damage and contributing to diseases. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E help to neutralize free radicals and prevent damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Free radicals are produced by various sources including air pollution, normal metabolism, and intense exercise. These highly reactive chemicals contain free unpaired electrons, making them capable of oxidizing other molecules and causing damage to DNA and cells.
This can lead to various diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Free radicals form part of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which also include peroxides like H2O2 and superoxide (O2−).
Free radicals are not only generated by the body's metabolic processes but also by external factors such as environmental toxins, which underscores the importance of antioxidant-rich nutrients like vitamins C and E, and ß-carotene.
These antioxidants act as radical scavengers, neutralizing free radicals and preventing them from causing cellular damage, slowing down the oxidative stress process and contributing to overall health.