Free radicals come from some foods, drugs, alcohol, and environmental contaminants. Learn the details of what causes free radicals in the body and how to prevent damage.
In the amounts caused by immune system and metabolism, free radicals are vital to our health. What causes free radicals in excess — that overwhelm your body’s antioxidants and can lead to health problems — include stress and toxic substances. Keep reading to learn where free radicals come from and how to prevent damage.
SOME FOODS CAUSE FREE RADICALS
EXCESS SUGAR
Did you know drinking two cans of cola can double free radical generation? Sugar also interferes with powerful antioxidant Vitamin C, so you have more free radicals and fewer antioxidants to fight them.
RANCID COOKING OILS
Heating an oil past its smoke point, re-heating oils that have been cooled (which occurs in commercial deep frying), and simply having a bottle of oil for too long can turn even the best oils into rancid free radical sources.
PROCESSED MEATS
Unless otherwise marked, processed meats contain preservatives that can generate free radicals.
FREE RADICALS COME FROM EXCESS BODY FAT
Excess body fat (in way higher amounts than this protective) starts a process that releases free radicals in dangerous quantities. When fat accumulates in the liver, it leads to free radicals while depleting master antioxidant glutathione — a double dose of oxidative stress damage.
FREE RADICALS COME FROM HEAVY METALS
There’s still no evidence that Twisted Sister is bad for your health (OK, maybe some whiplash from head banging); we’re talking about mercury, lead, and arsenic that industrial facilities release into the environment. Exposure to these heavy metals can generate free radicals.
FREE RADICALS COME FROM THE SUN
Radiation — from Hiroshima to x-rays — causes free radical production. This includes UV radiation, e.g. sunlight. You can see the damage of UV-induced free radicals in sagging and wrinkled skin.
INHALING TOXIC SUBSTANCES CAUSES FREE RADICALS
Big news! Huffing paint is bad for you. Chemicals used in paints, dyes, medical technology, fuels, and as industrial solvents cause free radicals. Inhaling toluene — which is used in consumer products, including nail polish remover, paints, and glues — can lead to oxidative stress. Air pollution itself is a source of free radicals, with some researchers claiming that if the circumstances are right the air itself can be as dangerous as cigarette smoke.
PESTICIDES CAUSE FREE RADICALS
Pesticides have been correlated with oxidative stress biomarkers in farmers. While these chemicals absorb through different biological pathways — some through ingestion, others through the skin — many have been scientifically shown to induce oxidative stress.
STRESS CAUSES FREE RADICALS
Numerous studies have related chronic stress to higher oxidative stress levels. Caregivers, combat veterans, and families undergoing divorce show higher oxidative stress in studies. Researchers say stress is compounded by the psychological anticipation of stress, which often causes more stress than the situation itself.
FREE RADICALS COME FROM BAD HABITS
Cigarettes
Think of free radicals as your body’s internal vice tax. Cigarette smoke is such a major source of free radicals that the National Institutes of Health recommends smokers consume more of the antioxidant Vitamin C on a daily basis than non-smokers. Smoking also depletes master antioxidant glutathione.
Alcohol
Alcohol generates free radicals throughout the body while simultaneously — you guessed it — depleting critical vitamins and antioxidants like glutathione. While the latter is best known for its liver support, it’s also heavily concentrated in the lungs where it can experience 90% reduction in chronic alcoholics.
Drugs
While much of the recent research on THC and cannabis is positive, some studies indicate that its smoke can induce free radicals. There’s no good news when it comes to crystal meth, including being among what causes free radicals.
FREE RADICALS COME FROM MEDICATIONS
The liver uses glutathione to break down food, alcohol, and medications and remove them from the body. Medication use places an extraordinary demand on the liver and quickly uses up glutathione stores. Acetaminophen-based drugs are particularly harsh on glutathione levels. Many cancer patients opt for high-dose Vitamin C consumption because certain chemotherapy drugs generate large amounts of free radicals. Free radicals also come from tricyclic antidepressants as well as some anesthetics and analgesics.
WHAT CAUSES FREE RADICAL ANNIHILATION
Since it’s almost impossible to avoid what causes free radicals, adding antioxidants can help mitigate the damage. Fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds are often excellent antioxidant sources, but may not be enough when faced with free radicals that come in droves from the sources discussed above. Antioxidant supplements include Vitamin C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Acetyl L-Carnitine, omega-3 fatty acid, Glutathione.
