You may have come across terms such as antioxidant, free radical, or oxidative stress. A free radical is a highly reactive chemical that readily gives up an electron—it essentially fires the electron like a chemical bullet. Free radicals can damage tissues and promote inflammation through a process known as oxidation.
The term oxidative stress is often used to describe the cumulative damage caused by free radicals. Oxidative stress has been linked to a wide range of conditions, including cancer, aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, chronic inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Flavonoids may help protect against these conditions by contributing to the body’s overall antioxidant defense system. Antioxidants are vitamins, nutrients, and phytochemicals that help neutralize free radicals. They act much like tiny “bulletproof vests,” shielding cells from oxidative damage.
Dietary antioxidants include vitamins C and E, bioflavonoids, alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, and other naturally occurring compounds found in foods and nutritional supplements. Together, these substances help protect cells and tissues from the damaging effects of oxidative stress.
