The sparks that shoot out of the fireplace are free radicals and the tattered carpet is degenerative disease. Whatever part of the body wears out first determines what type of degenerative disease you will develop. Some research scientists even believe certain areas of our body are genetically predisposed to oxidative stress, which may explain familial traits when it comes to degenerative diseases. This oxidation process actually occurs in the normal every day process of metabolism within the furnace or battery of each cell called the mitochondria. We are not totally defenseless against the attack of free radicals.
Antioxidants have the ability to render the free radicals harmless.
This is like putting glass doors or a fine wire mesh in front of the fireplace. As long as there are adequate amounts of antioxidants within our bodies to handle the free radicals produced within the cell, there is no damage to the surrounding tissues. The body is not able to produce enough of the antioxidants on its own to neutralize all of the free radicals. We need to get the rest of these antioxidants from our food. If there is excess free radicals, however, oxidative stress occurs and the body begins to degenerate.