What are free radicals?

Toxins vs free radicals

• Are all toxins free radicals? If not please give examples of toxins that are NOT free radicals. Thanks

• Answer:

  Hi docallen, No, all toxins are not free radicals. In fact, none of them are. Free radicals occur when toxins are absorbed into the body and the body develops those toxins into chemicals within the body. Therefore, while free radicals are eventually toxic, causing cancer and other illnesses, toxins-- such as air, food and water pollution-- are not free radicals. They are not chemicals within the body. There can certainly be free radicals which certain foods always cause in the body, but they are not free radicals until after they are absorbed and converted into chemicals. Here are some examples of toxins: air food triclosan (commonly found in hand soaps) Phthalates (found in plastic) Carbon monoxide (leaking furnaces and cars) Perfluorinated chemicals (teflon coated cookware and stain repellents) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (gases found in hair sprays and other gases released as sprays) lead (older homes have pipes and paint containing lead) Pesticides and herbicides (non-organic foods) Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_(chemistry) http://www.glyconutrientsreference.com/whydoweneedglyconutrients/toxinsandfreeradicals.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxin http://drbenkim.com/articles-household-toxins.htm Search terms: free radicals wikipedia toxins If you need any additional help or clarification, let me know and I'll be glad to provide it. Thank you for your question! --Keystroke-ga