One of the reasons why people age is oxidative free radicals

In fact, human aging is the same process as metal rusting, oil deterioration, fruit discoloration and skin tanning. The underlying reason is oxidation. In the 1950s, American geriatric medicine researcher Denham. Harman proposed the "free radical theory" of the aging theory and used this theory to explain the process of human aging. At the molecular level, molecules lacking paired electrons are free radicals, and free radicals will take electrons from other molecules, thereby causing a series of reactions, leading to degenerative changes in cells and subsequently causing damage to the entire tissue.

We all know that our body system is in principle a balanced one. Then, after free radicals appear in the body, what system does our human body have to fight against these free radicals? That is our antioxidant system, known as the enzyme system, mainly consisting of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase systems, which capture and neutralize free radicals. In addition, antioxidants from food sources can also combat such free radicals. For instance, various vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, etc., are all good exogenous sources.

So, does that mean that by supplementing a large amount of exogenous antioxidants, we can play a role in combating free radicals? From a scientific perspective, supplementing a large amount of exogenous antioxidants is not a very good approach. In fact, our main goal is still to enhance our own antioxidant system, to capture and combat free radicals through our own antioxidant system. This is a virtuous cycle because supplementing a large amount of antioxidants will have a certain impact on the body's own antioxidant system. Weaken the response system of one's own antioxidant system. Therefore, an appropriate amount of exogenous antioxidant substances is sufficient.

So where do the free radicals in the body come from? In fact, there are basically two sources of free radicals in the body: exogenous and endogenous. The exogenous sources mainly result from excessive sun exposure, environmental pollution, smoking, staying up late, and long-term mental stress, which account for about 20%. Endogenous free radicals are the main source of free radicals, accounting for about 80%. They are mainly by-products produced by our bodies during daily operations, just like the exhaust gas produced by cars during operation. As the years of car use increase, the amount of exhaust gas also increases. The same is true for the production of free radicals in the human body.

When it comes to endogenous free radicals in the human body, it is necessary to understand the energy factory of our body - the mitochondria in cells. Mitochondria in cells are mainly responsible for generating energy, but during the process of energy production, by-products are also produced, which are free radicals. The number of free radicals released by each mitochondria is also different. Mitochondria use nutrients and oxygen to produce ATP. At the same time, by-product free radicals are produced. In the early stage, mitochondria only generate a small amount of free radicals. Under the action of the body's own antioxidant system, these small amounts of free radicals are captured and neutralized. However, as the body ages, mitochondria also age, which leads to the fact that the energy they produce decreases with age, but the by-product free radicals increase more and more. These free radicals not only damage the surrounding environment, It also causes damage to the DNA of mitochondria themselves, leading to the release of more free radicals and thus entering a vicious cycle. It is in this vicious cycle that human aging gradually emerges