What Is Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress refers to metabolic reactions, which produce free radicals. These radicals can start chain reactions within a cell that cause damage or death to the cell when not kept in balance or "quenched" by internal antioxidants. Oxidative stress can cause disruptions in normal mechanisms of cellular function and is thought to be involved in the development of many chronic diseases. Oxidative stress may lead to an imbalance in the body's ability to detoxify or repair damage to all components of a cell, including proteins, lipids and DNA.

Of more than 80,000 chemicals in commerce, only a small percentage of them have been tested for their impact on the human body. Oxidative stress is associated with the cause of many diseases and premature aging.