FACTORS BEHIND AGEING

New research indicates that caloric restriction decreases DNA damage

FREE RADICALS When your body uses oxygen, it creates free radicals as a byproduct. These are molecules with an unpaired electron that is stolen from healthy molecules, thus causing havoc in your body OXIDATIVE STRESS The process by which the free radicals can damage the cells in your body. Not when you are young, but as you age and don’t eat right, smoke, or are exposed to pollution, your risk for cellular and organ damage goes up ANTIOXIDANTS Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage, the body has a defence system: antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged