Free Radicals: The Silent Killers Inside the Human Body

Bengaluru: Free radicals — unstable molecules produced inside the body — are increasingly being recognized as one of the biggest culprits behind premature aging and chronic disease.

According to Dr. Denham Harman, who first proposed the Free Radical Theory of Aging in 1950, these molecules are generated in the body’s mitochondria — the cell’s “powerhouse” — when energy is produced. Around five percent of this energy transforms into harmful radicals like superoxide and nitric oxide.

Pollution, smoking, fried food, drugs, and radiation accelerate their formation. These radicals attack DNA, disrupt cell function, and are linked to degenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

Medical researchers emphasize the importance of a diet rich in antioxidants — found in fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains — to neutralize these radicals and prevent damage.