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Antioxidants and Antioxidants and Free RadicalsFree Radicals

Eugene FungEugene Fung

www.ginsengcare.comwww.ginsengcare.com

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Two Guys in Our BodyTwo Guys in Our Body

• Today, let us introduce 2 guys in our body

• A bad guy and a good guy• The bad guy is Free Radical• The good guy is antioxidant• Antioxidant and Free Radical are two

sides of the same coin• When you have one, you have the other

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Free Radicals in a NutshellFree Radicals in a Nutshell

• A free radical is simply an atom which has an odd number of electrons in its outer ring.

• a "free radical" is any atom or molecule which has an "unpaired electron" in the outer ring.

• ProtonsProtons have a positive electrical charge.• Electrons have a negative electrical charge. The

electrons move around the central mass made up of protons and neutrons.

• Neutrons have no electrical charge. The word is related to "neutral."

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Atom StructureAtom Structure

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Free Radical- Example: OxygenFree Radical- Example: Oxygen

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Free Radicals – Example: Helium Free Radicals – Example: Helium

• Let's take the example of helium• Where the helium atom has 2 electrons circling around the

center, and its center is made up of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. • If 1 of those electrons "goes away", that electron would no longer

have a mate!• What we would have here is a free radical. • It does have an odd number of electrons (1) in the outer ring (the

only ring). • We should note that it is very difficult to take one electron away

from helium - that is why helium is considered so stable.• Another word we need to understand in this situation is "ion." • An "ion" is an atom with some "net electrical charge" - an atom

with either a "+" charge or a "-" electrical charge.

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Free Radicals – Helium AtomFree Radicals – Helium Atom

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Free Radicals -1Free Radicals -1

• Once an atom has fewer electrons, with a negative electrical charge, than protons, with a positive electrical charge, this atom now has more positive electrical charge than negative electrical charge

• We therefore say that this atom is, itself, positively charged.

• Because it is positively charged it attracts any available electron, with its negative charge. Opposites attract.

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Free Radicals - 2Free Radicals - 2

• In summary, you should be comfortable with understanding what a "free radical" is.

• It is an atom with an unpaired electron in the outer ring.

• It is lacking an electron.

• Does a free radical always have to be just one atom? No. It can also be a molecule, made up of 2 or more atoms.

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Free Radicals - 3Free Radicals - 3

• Free radicals are atoms or molecules which contain unpaired electrons.

• Since electrons have a very strong tendency to exist in a paired rather than an unpaired state, free radicals indiscriminately pick up electrons from other atoms, which in turn converts those other atoms into secondary free radicals, thus setting up a chain reaction which can cause substantial biological damage.

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Free Radical - 4Free Radical - 4

• A free radical can be thought of as "incomplete" -- wanting a partner.  If there is a couple on the dance floor, and the man walks away from the woman on the dance floor, that would cause some concern for the woman

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Free Radical - 5Free Radical - 5

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What are Antioxidants -1What are Antioxidants -1

• Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals.

• Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation.

• Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases

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What are Antioxidants -2What are Antioxidants -2

• Antioxidants are found in many foods. These include fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, and some meats, poultry and fish

• Antioxidant substances include: • Beta-carotene • Lutein • Lycopene • Selenium • Vitamin A • Vitamin C • Vitamin E

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Most Commonly Known Most Commonly Known AntioxidantsAntioxidants

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Most Commonly Known AntioxidantsMost Commonly Known Antioxidants(Cont’d)(Cont’d)

• Vitamin A and CarotenoidsCarrots, squash, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!)

• Vitamin CCitrus fruits like oranges and lime etc, green peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, strawberries and tomatoes

• Vitamin ENuts & seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil and liver oil

• SeleniumFish & shellfish, red meat, grains, eggs, chicken and garlic

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Other Common Antioxidants:Other Common Antioxidants:Some common phytochemicalsSome common phytochemicals

• Flavonoids / polyphenols – soy– red wine– purple grapes – pomegranate– cranberries– tea

• Lycopene – Tomato and tomato products– pink grapefruit– watermelon

• Lutein – dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, kiwi, brussels sprout

and spinach• Lignan

– Flax seed– oatmeal– barley– rye

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Other AntioxidantsOther Antioxidants

• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

• Glutathione (Master Antioxidant)

• Organic germanium in BH ginseng

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SummarySummary

• Antioxidants are found abundant in beans, grain products, fruits and vegetables.

• Look for fruits with bright color - lutein in some of the yellow pigments found in corn; orange in cantaloupe, butternut squash and mango; red from lycopene in tomatoes and watermelon, and purple and blue in berries.

• So enjoy eating a variety of these products.• In addition, minimize the exposure of oxidative

stress such as smoking and sunburn.