| Growing older has its benefits, such as the | | | | process, they attack our DNA, cellular proteins, and lipid |
| accumulation of experience, knowledge, and wisdom. | | | | membranes. |
| However, old age also brings hair loss, wrinkled skin, | | | | Another reason for the increased numbers of free |
| joint pains, weight gain, physical and mental disabilities, | | | | radicals in our body is environmental factors, such as |
| sluggishness, and depression, which can make life far | | | | radiation, stress, pesticides, cigarettes, pollution, and |
| less enjoyable. | | | | fried foods. Free radicals are a major contributor to |
| The 'fountain of youth' and other such myths have | | | | degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, |
| been a reoccurring topic in literature since ancient | | | | cancer, and nervous system dysfunctions. Fortunately, |
| times. In our search for eternal youth and beauty, we | | | | we have antioxidants, which are a natural means to |
| have waged and lost many wars on age. However, | | | | combat the effects of free radicals. Naturally produced |
| with each failure, we never lost hope. In our attempts, | | | | by our body, they control the damage caused by free |
| we have uncovered methods to delay and, to an | | | | radicals and help deactivate them. |
| extent, even reverse the aging process. | | | | Today, developments in science have given us the |
| There are many reasons for the onset of | | | | weapons we need to fight the aging process. We no |
| degenerative diseases associated with aging. Most are | | | | longer need to passively accept the inevitability of |
| caused by oxidative damage to cells, which | | | | aging. Some techniques - such as a vegetarian diet, |
| accumulates with age. Free radicals are a by-product | | | | fasting, calorie restriction, cosmetic products, natural |
| of cellular metabolism, and are known for being | | | | supplements, and surgery - are well-established for |
| unstable. They circulate through our body looking for | | | | their benefits, and each has its own dedicated group |
| unpaired electrons to stabilize themselves. In the | | | | of followers. |