Oxidative stress, due to the very reactive molecules called free radicals
, is connected to many pathologies: atherosclerosis, myocardial
infarct, Alzheimer's desease, some tumors, senile cataract . These pathologies are common to the whole Europe, yet they are less common in those countries where a diet rich in antioxidant molecules (flavonoids and carotenes, as a rule) takes place: e.g the French Paradox
. The goal of this project consists in bringing up students to a responsible diet, that's aimed at limiting the foregoing deseases.
A demonstration was set up, that makes use of the Briggs-Rauscher reaction: an oscillating reaction where differently coloured radicalic and non radicalic phases, alternate. Measuring time intervals, students were able to estimate which food (fruits and vegetables above all) is a good radical scavenger.
The project won the ILL Prize.