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Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

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474 ALICE CALLAHAN, PHD, HEATHER LEONARD, MED, RDN, AND TAMBERLY POWELL, MS, RDN<br />

Figure 8.12. A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. It can steal electrons from a<br />

stable molecule, creating a new free radical <strong>and</strong> initiating a chain reaction.<br />

Antioxidants are molecules that can donate an electron to stabilize <strong>and</strong> neutralize<br />

free radicals. Like a domino that refuses to fall, an antioxidant can stop the free radical<br />

chain reaction in its tracks. In donating an electron, the antioxidant itself becomes a free<br />

radical. However, antioxidants are special in that they are not very reactive themselves <strong>and</strong><br />

have processes for quick stabilization.

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