The Paradox of the Free Radical is that it appears to have a positive charge and a negative effect.
Paradoxically, it has both a positive effect and a negative effect, depending on my perspective.
Free radicals are freely available from the Sun.
They have a positive and beneficial effect via the inflammation response that is designed to neutralise bacterial pathogens.
They appear to have a negative detrimental effect when our inflammation response is suppressed.
Acute inflammation is the result of free radical activity neutralising excessive pathogen activity.
The free radical is an anti-oxidant that starves pathogens of their life-giving oxygen.
Chronic inflammation is caused when the inflammation response is seen to be chronic because the anti-oxidant action starts to neutralise healthy cells.
Acute inflammation is essential for the maintenance and repair of cells, whereas chronic inflammation is not.