Oxidative Stress/Free Radicals Flashcards
What are free radicals and their effect on a cells DNA?
Molecules that contain unpaired electrons in their outer orbital, making them unstable and reactive.
What are the three sources of free radicals?
1) Free radicals that are self-produced
2) Free radicals from our diet and personal habits
3) Free radicals from the environment
What is a source of free radical that is self-produced?
Cellular respiration inside our cells.
What personal diet/habits form free radicals?
Smoking, consuming alcohol, and consuming processed foods.
What free radicals come from the environment?
Radiation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation (sunlight), ionizing radiation( x-rays and CT Scans), and air pollutants.
What are reactive oxygen species (ROS)?
These are free radicals that contain oxygen.
What are examples of reactive oxygen species?
Oxygen, Superoxide anion, Peroxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, Hydroxyl radical, and Hydroxyl Ion.
What is oxidative stress?
A situation where there’s an imbalance in the number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. ( Greater amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS/bad guys) than antioxidants (good guys)).
What are the effects of oxidative stress?
Oxidative Stress can cause Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons’, Nervous System and moods, Digestive Disorders and Allergies, Autoimmune, Cardiac Diseases, and Diabetes Type II
How do we free body of oxidative stress?
1) Reduce the amount of ROS exposed by reducing behaviors that increase ROS in our bodies
2) Increase the amount of antioxidants through diet
How do antioxidants make free radicals/ROS more stable?
Antioxidants donate an electron to free radicals to make a healthy atom.
What are the sources of antioxidants?
1) Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, kiwis, & guavas
2) Vitamin E: Dark Leafy greens (spinach, broccoli, & kale) & Nuts
3) Vitamin A: Carrots and Bell Peppers
4) Glutathione: Dark leafy greens (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kale, & asparagus)
