When an atom, molecule, or ion has an unpaired electron, it is unstable and is called a free radical. Free radicals are produced all the time as your cells convert glucose to energy. But damage to mitochondria (a subunit of the cell, found inside most cells of your body) can also lead to increased production of free radicals. And so can consuming certain substances, such as fried foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides, and air pollutants. Free radicals, because they’re unstable, can cause damage to DNA and cell membranes by grabbing their electrons through a process called oxidation. This
...more