To understand the way that free radicals and antioxidants interact, you must first understand a bit about cells and molecules. This is a quick course in Physiology/Chemistry lesson: The human body is composed of many different types of cells.

Cells are composed of many different types of molecules. Molecules consist of one or more atoms of one or more elements joined by chemical bonds.

Atoms are made up of a nucleus, protons, electrons, and neutrons. The number positively charged particles (protons) in the nucleus of the atom is what determines how many negatively charged particles (electron) will surround the atom.

Electrons are take care of the chemical reactions and are the substance that bonds atoms together to form molecules. Electrons surround, or “orbit” an atom in one or more shells.

When the innermost shell has two electrons, it is considered full. when the second shell is full with electrons the process starts all over again.