Definition: A free radical is often a chemically unstable molecule that has an unpaired electron rendering it highly reactive. In your body, free radicals are typically unstable oxygen molecules capable of stealing an electron from a neighboring stable molecule, a process called oxidation, or "cellular rust." DNA inside the cell can be damaged by free radicals, and if not repaired, can cause mutations that potentially result in conditions such as heart disease, memory loss and cancer.
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Free radicals are unstable, high-energy particles that can zip around in a random way, causing cell damage. Antioxidants can stabilize free radicals before they alter the components of a cell.
