It is well accepted that smoking places an abundant amount of free radicals into combat with a number of different body defense systems. Lungs, mouth, pharynx, espohagus, heart and circulatory system, skin, immune system, and other systems and organs are subject to free radical damage caused by the use of tobacco products. Chronic cigarette and cigar smoking is associated with the appearance of greatly increased levels of free radicals in the body that lead to damage by oxidation. To put it simply, the oxidation caused by free radicals is stopped by antioxidants.
Antioxidants are agents that combat the oxidation caused by free radicals.
Antioxidants work to neutralize excess free radicals, stopping them from starting the chain reaction of damage that contributes to various diseases and to premature aging. However, these remarkable antioxidants are destroyed in their fight with free radicals and must be replenished so that our cells can live. In addition, antioxidants provided significant protection against cell DNA damage due to tobacco exposure. DNA damage is a cause of mutations that can cause cancers. Approximately one out of three of all cancers in the U.S. are believed to be tobacco related.