Energy creation and transfer within our bodies (specifically, within cells) occurs through the transfer of electrons from one molecule to the next. The process by which an electron is lost is called reduction and the opposite process by which an electron is gained is called oxidation (redox reaction). The oxidation-reduction reactions that occur within our cells to manufacture energy are what is known as cell respiration. One of the side effects of cell respiration is leaking of electrons involved in cell respiration from the respiratory centers of the cell. These escaped electrons then react with ambient oxygen to form what are known as free radicals (note, several other factors cause free radical formation including: environmental pollutants, smoking, vigorous exercise, pesticides etc.).
What are free radicals? They are molecular fragments that are characterized by having an unpaired electron which makes them extremely volatile. Because of their unstable and volatile nature they react especially aggressively with other molecules from the instant they are created and over time the cumulative damage unleashed by their activity destroys molecular integrity which spreads to the cell, then to tissues, onwards to organs and ultimately affects the entire organism to manifest as degenerative disease associated with aging, as well as accelerated aging process. To date an estimated eighty to ninety percent of degenerative diseases are believed to be linked to free radical activity.
Several vitamins are known powerful anti-oxidants and act as protective buffers within our cells to counter the destructive effect caused by constant free radical activity .
So to summarize, although vitamins have many other essential functions within our bodies, their anti-oxidant activity alone should be reason enough for anyone to seriously consider supplementing with vitamins if they aren't already.
