On call: Exercise and free radicals
On call
Free radicals are molecules that are missing one member of a pair of electrons. Since that leaves an electron without a partner, the molecule is internally charged up — it has extra energy and is unstable. Nature abhors instability, and free radicals try to dump their extra energy by reacting with normal molecules. Sometimes that reaction generates more free radicals, but sometimes it can damage DNA or cell membranes, perhaps contributing to various diseases.
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