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Free radicals are deadly chemicals formed in your body when stress, illness, or injury causes ischemia or diminished blood supply to tissues. Ischemia is scalar as to amount of involvement but the path to cell death for each cell is the same. Wherever there is pain, shock, coma or death, free radicals are involved.

The only defense to neutralize free radicals are antioxidants.

Every cell in the body is made up of molecules, which are comprised of atoms. Each atom is made up of a nucleus surrounded by layers of electrons and it is the electrons that form stable molecules by bonding with the electrons of other atoms. Free radicals are formed when normal metabolic reactions within cells sometimes leave some of these electrons unbonded and their molecules are then destabilized.

This is a perfectly natural process and free radicals may even be useful in helping the body?s immune system to fight threats like viruses and bacteria. Normally the body can handle free radicals, but problems can arise when they?re produced in high numbers or if insufficient antioxidants are present. Left unchallenged, free radicals multiply themselves through chain reactions which can lead to cellular damage and then disease.

The importance of antioxidants is that they seem to counteract the effects of free radicals by using their own electrons to bond with and stabilize them.

Following injury and illness, the body produces free radicals more quickly than antioxidants can neutralize them. The injury zone widens and the illness worsens while we attempt other means to change the balance. Antibiotics, fluids, blankets — all of these are common remedies to illness and injury. Too many drugs used in trauma can also impair healing and may contribute to higher death rates. Anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone, local anesthetics, and narcotics are among these drugs.

Diets high and supplemented with Vitamins C and E are vital to protecting and neutralizing free radicals in the body.