Last Updated on July 17, 2023

Every day, our bodies are exposed to countless environmental toxins and stressors that can damage our cells and tissues. One of the ways this damage occurs is through the production of free radicals. While these molecules are a natural byproduct of many of our body’s metabolic processes, their accumulation can lead to oxidative stress and a host of health problems.

In this article, we will explore the definition of free radicals, their effects on the body, and how we can protect ourselves from their harmful effects.

What Are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are unstable molecules that have one or more unpaired electrons, making them highly reactive in an attempt to regain stability. They are produced naturally in the body through normal metabolic processes, such as energy production and immune system function.

Due to their highly reactive nature, free radicals can cause damage to cells, proteins, and DNA, which can contribute to aging and various health issues if left unchecked.

Free Radicals Create Oxidative Stress

Free radicals create oxidative stress when their production surpasses the body’s ability to neutralize or eliminate them effectively.

When free radicals interact with cellular components, they can cause oxidative damage by stealing electrons from other molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and DNA, in a process called oxidation. This chain reaction of oxidation can lead to cellular dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue damage, resulting in a state of oxidative stress that contributes to various health issues and aging.

Relationship Between Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Antioxidants and free radicals have an important relationship in maintaining the balance of our body’s biochemical processes.

We’ve learned that free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause oxidative damage to cells by stealing electrons from other molecules. Antioxidants, on the other hand, are molecules that can neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to them, preventing the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals.

By neutralizing free radicals, antioxidant supplements help maintain cellular health, reduce inflammation, and protect the body against oxidative stress. These are just some of the benefits of antioxidants.

What Causes Free Radical Cell Damage?

Several factors can contribute to this imbalance, leading to cellular damage:

  • Environmental factors: Exposure to pollution, radiation, and chemicals can increase the production of free radicals in the body, overwhelming the antioxidant defense system.
  • Poor diet: Consuming a diet low in antioxidants, and high in unhealthy fats and processed foods, can contribute to increased free radical production and insufficient antioxidant support.
  • Stress: Chronic stress can lead to increased production of free radicals and weaken the body’s antioxidant defense system.
  • Aging: As the body ages, its natural antioxidant production decreases, and the susceptibility to free radical damage increases.
  • Inflammation: Inflammatory processes in the body can generate free radicals, causing further tissue damage and perpetuating the cycle of inflammation.
  • Lifestyle factors: Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise can increase free radical production and reduce the body’s ability to neutralize them with antioxidants.

Related: What Causes Inflammation in the Body? Inflammatory Triggers Explained

Symptoms of Free Radical Cell Damage

Free radical cell damage can manifest in various ways, impacting both physical and psychological health.

Physical Symptoms

  • Fatigue: The body’s energy production can be negatively affected by free radical damage, leading to persistent tiredness.
  • Joint pain and inflammation: Free radicals can damage joint tissues, causing pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility.
  • Premature aging: Free radicals can damage skin cells, leading to skin inflammation, wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots.
  • Weakened immune system: Cellular damage caused by free radicals can cause a weak immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections.

Psychological Symptoms

  • Cognitive decline: Free radical damage can impact brain cells, leading to memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and decreased cognitive function.
  • Mood disorders: Free radical damage has been linked to the development of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.
  • Increased stress: A body overwhelmed by free radicals can struggle to maintain balance, leading to increased stress and emotional instability.

Related: 5 Cardinal Signs of Inflammation in the Body (And How to Treat Them)

How Do Free Radicals Affect the Body?

Free radical cell damage can affect various systems of the body, each in slightly different ways leading to a variety of adverse outcomes.

Cardiovascular System

  • Atherosclerosis: Free radicals can oxidize low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, contributing to plaque buildup in the arteries, which narrows and hardens them.
  • Hypertension: Oxidative stress caused by free radicals can damage blood vessels, leading to increased blood pressure and reduced blood flow.
  • Heart attack: The buildup of plaque due to free radical damage can block blood flow in the coronary arteries, causing a heart attack.
  • Stroke: Free radicals can damage blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of a stroke due to blocked or ruptured blood vessels.
  • Heart failure: Prolonged oxidative stress and damage to the heart muscle can weaken the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, leading to heart failure.

Respiratory System

  • Asthma: Free radicals can cause oxidative stress, leading to inflammation and constriction of airways, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Oxidative stress from free radicals can damage lung tissue and airways, contributing to the development of COPD.
  • Lung cancer: Free radical damage to lung cells may cause DNA mutations, increasing the risk of lung cancer.
  • Pulmonary fibrosis: Oxidative stress from free radicals can lead to inflammation and scarring of lung tissue, causing a decrease in lung function and shortness of breath.
  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Free radicals can contribute to lung inflammation and injury, leading to fluid accumulation and reduced oxygen exchange, resulting in ARDS.

Digestive System

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Oxidative stress from free radicals can cause inflammation in the intestines, contributing to IBD conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Free radicals can damage the esophageal lining, increasing inflammation and potentially worsening GERD symptoms.
  • Peptic ulcers: Oxidative stress can disrupt the protective mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum, making them more susceptible to damage from stomach acids and resulting in peptic ulcers.
  • Liver diseases: Free radicals can cause oxidative stress in liver cells, potentially leading to liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cirrhosis.
  • Colorectal cancer: Free radical-induced DNA damage in colon cells may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Immune System

  • Chronic inflammation: Free radicals can trigger an inflammatory response, which, when sustained, can lead to chronic inflammation and associated diseases.
  • Autoimmune disorders: Oxidative stress can cause damage to healthy cells, potentially leading the immune system to mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues, resulting in autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Immunodeficiency: Free radical damage can weaken the immune system by damaging immune cells or disrupting their function, making the body more susceptible to infections.
  • Allergies: Oxidative stress may contribute to the development of allergies by causing an imbalance in the immune system, leading to an overreaction to harmless substances.
  • Accelerated aging of the immune system: Free radical-induced damage can accelerate the aging of immune cells, reducing their ability to protect the body from pathogens and diseases effectively.

How to Reduce Free Radical Damage

How do you get rid of free radicals in your body? Many natural inflammation remedies can not only help reduce free radical cell damage but can also provide you with natural pain relief. Some of these proven strategies include:

  • Reduce intake of inflammatory foods: Cut back on processed inflammatory foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats, which can increase inflammation and contribute to free radical production.
  • Start an anti-inflammatory diet: Consume an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, all of which provide antioxidants and other nutrients that help neutralize free radicals.
  • Manage lifestyle factors: Engage in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, get adequate sleep, and manage stress, as these factors can influence the body’s ability to combat free radicals.
  • Take dietary supplements: Consider taking anti-inflammatory herbs and dietary supplements like vitamins C and E, selenium, and coenzyme Q10, which have antioxidant properties that help protect against free radical damage.

Since reliable research is often hard to come by, it can be difficult to determine which anti-inflammatory supplements work. Here are three proven supplements you can use to reduce free radical cell damage.

Turmeric, which contains the active ingredient curcumin, is a potent antioxidant that helps combat free radical cell damage. Additionally, curcumin can stimulate the body’s natural antioxidant enzymes, which further strengthens the defense against free radicals and oxidative stress.

Apple cider vinegar contains various antioxidants, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which help protect the body from free radical cell damage. These antioxidants scavenge free radicals and neutralize them, preventing them from causing oxidative stress and cellular damage.

Elderberry is rich in antioxidants, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which play a crucial role in combating free radical cell damage. Consuming elderberry can help support the body’s natural defenses against oxidative stress and reduce the harmful effects of free radicals on the body.

Free Radicals: Final Thoughts

Free radicals can have harmful effects on the body and are linked to various health issues such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to reduce exposure to free radicals by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and incorporating antioxidants into your diet. Together, these strategies can have a potent anti-inflammatory effect.

By taking proactive measures to reduce free radical cell damage, you can help promote overall health and well-being.