While oxygen is absolutely essential to the survival of living organisms on this planet, it seems that there can be too much of a good thing. When too much oxygen is assimilated by the body, the oxygen can become unstable and overly active. When this happens, the oxygen has a tendency to attach itself to any type of biological molecule, including those of both healthy and unhealthy cells. When water molecules are absorbed that are in any structure other than hexagonal, the oxygen molecules have a tendency to become unstable and overly active. These active oxygen atoms are also known as free radicals.

The Word on the Street

"Free Radicals" is a big buzzword nowadays and everybody is talking about free radicals and how to neutralize them. Free radicals have a very high oxidation potential, meaning that they are known to steal electrons from other cells. Generally, these free radicals have the ability to attack and rid the body of viruses, bacteria, and other waste.

However, when there are too many of these free radicals roaming around in the human body, they can damage normal tissue as well as waste. Even though free radicals do a number on toxic cells, they can (and will) attack and damage healthy cells. There are many dangerous effects of oxidation (the theft of an electron) on the body's organs:

• Oxidation of the liver can lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer
• Oxidation of the pancreas can lead to pancreatitis, diabetes and cancer
• Oxidation of the kidney can lead to nephritis, nephrosis and cancer

Anti-Oxidants and Free Radicals

Don't panic just yet! There is a way to protect your body's healthy tissue from oxidation caused by these free radicals. You must simply provide free electrons to the active oxygen radicals. This will neutralize their high oxidation potential and keep your healthy tissue safe from oxidation.

An effective way to protect your body from free radicals is to increase your intake of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants block the damage that active oxygen makes to your body's healthy cells. By taking care of your body and providing extra electrons (in the form of anti-oxidants) to the active oxygen radicals, you are protecting yourself from a wide array of diseases.