What Can Cause Oxidative Stress?
When the amount of free radicals present is more than what can be balanced by antioxidants, the free radicals start to chemically react with other components in the cell such as proteins, fats and DNA to capture their electrons. This makes the other cellular components unstable making them reactive and thus triggering a cascade of free radical-induced reactions leading to cell injury. When chronic oxidative injury occurs, this can result in several diseases over time.
Accumulation of free radicals within the body and resultant oxidative damage and disease can be caused by the following factors -
- Cigarette smoke inhalation
- Alcohol
- Chronic stress
- Sedentary life and lack of exercise
- Diet rich in sugar and fat
- Consumption of rancid or decomposed vegetable oils trigger a chain of oxidative damage
- Diet lacking in natural antioxidants such as whole grains, cereals and nuts, colorful fruits and vegetables
- Infections such as H pylori, Chlamydia pneumoniae, hepatitis C, P gingivalis
- Pollution
- Eating fruits and vegetables contaminated with insecticides and pesticides
- Heavy metals
- Radiation exposure
- Disruption of normal biological (circadian) rhythm and sleep disruption Exposure to blue light from electronic gadgets
