If the bacterial theory of disease was the most significant one of the nineteenth century, the free radical theory is the next theory of major importance of the twentieth century. Before we go on in this discussion, let us define what these free radicals are that are responsible for aging and degeneration of the human as well as other species. These molecules of free radical character have a missing or impaired electron in its outer shell. There are many type of these free radicals, which we will cover later. Please remember we have to think in terms of molecules when we think of this type of free radical pathology, and that means shifting to a different level of thinking.
Free radicals live in a very different world a minute world where atoms and molecules exist.
This gives you some idea of this new concept of illness at a level we ve never thought about. The things we see and feel have a basis at that molecular level we ve just discussed. The cell is the smallest self-sufficient unit of life. It can carry out all the processes needed for life. Cells are composed of molecules and we are composed of cells, and therefore we are just atoms and molecules.