Free Radical

A highly reactive chemical or nutritional breakdown product that can cause damage to a cell or tissue.

A free radical, also called "reactive oxygen species," is a by-product of breathing, inflammatory responses, or metabolic processes, and can also be produced from the foods we ingest. They cause oxidative damage to components of cells and tissues, potentially promoting diseases like AMD. The body has natural controls for free radicals, but if too many escape control, it can cause oxidative damage to the body and even induce apoptosis of cells. Antioxidants can be used to destroy free radicals. If you use nutritional supplementation, please consult with your personal physician and ophthalmologist as your personal health situation may require monitoring or a non-typical approach and nutritional supplements may interfere with prescribed medicines.