Fortunately, you can increase your odds of an active vital old age by making smart choices about nutrition and lifestyle. One popular theory about aging concerns free radical damage.
Free radicals are molecules that are missing one vital electron.
Common external sources of these unstable molecules include cigarette smoke, radiation, air pollutants, pesticides, fried foods, and alcohol. Free radicals may also be generated internally as we breathe, convert food into energy, or battle infection. With age, the accumulated impact of free radical damage starts to take a toll. Free radical disruption of cell metabolism is part of what ages our cells, explains Stopping the Clock by Dr. Ronald Klatz and Dr. Robert Goldman. The body naturally produces antioxidants to keep free radicals in check.