Oxidative stress is believed to underlie a wide range of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and to shorten life span. It causes high LDL levels (low density lipoprotein—the “bad” cholesterol) and the accumulation of plaques that can lead to heart disease. It even plays a role in the development of wrinkles. It’s been known since the 1960s that free radicals accelerate the aging process and that the reduction of free radicals can delay aging.
