Glutathione and what it does in the body

It might be the most crucial molecule for staying healthy and preventing illness. It is well known for its anti-aging properties as well as its ability to combat cancer, heart disease, dementia, and other chronic illnesses. It’s also important for treating everything from autism and Alzheimer’s disease and much more.

What exactly is glutathione?

It is a naturally occurring compound composed of three simple protein or amino acid building blocks:  cysteine, glycine, and glutamine. It is known as the master antioxidant because it can renew in the liver after each “fill-up” of free radicals and return to action. Free radicals are often produced as a result of regular cellular metabolic oxidation and excess of toxins. They can cause autoimmune illnesses, carious cancers, and even heart attacks.

Keeping your glutathione levels high is necessary for staying healthy, improving performance, avoiding disease, and aging properly. It is essential to immunological function and inflammation regulation. It is the body’s primary detoxifier and antioxidant, safeguarding our cells and ensuring proper energy metabolism.

Increased glutathione levels have been found in studies to prevent muscle injury, shorten recovery time, boost strength and endurance, and shift metabolism from fat generation to muscle building.

What does glutathione do?

It plays a crucial role in assisting the immune system, the body’s first line of defense against disease and sickness, to accomplish its job of combating infections. It also helps the immune system by preventing cancer and other disorders. Glutathione has also been proven in studies to be beneficial in the treatment of AIDS.

Studies have also shown that glutathione can be effective in treating fatty liver disease, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. It’s especially effective for people who make healthy lifestyle changes.

Furthermore, recent research has demonstrated that glutathione depletion is prevalent in the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2.

Glutathione is required for the proper functioning of mitochondria in cells. Cancer is caused by damaged or dysfunctional cellular mitochondria. This happens when contaminants and poor cellular terrain combine to cause a cellular defense reaction. During this process, healthy cells revert to a primitive form of respiration in which glucose (sugar) replaces oxygen for respiration. They then refuse to die and continue to multiply.

The secret of the power of this great molecule may be the sulfur chemical groups it contains. Sulfur is a sticky, smelly molecule which helps eliminate all the bad things in the body. Its stickiness allows it to capture damaging free radicals and toxins like mercury and other heavy metals.

Dr. Mark Hyman calls it the “mother of all antioxidants” and says that he has found glutathione deficiency to be common in virtually all seriously ill patients he has treated. This includes people with chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, cancer, chronic infections, autoimmune disease, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, asthma, kidney problems, liver disease, and more.

Deficiency of Glutathione

The body produces glutathione naturally, although production declines with aging. Toxins also reduce glutathione levels in the body. If you are unwell, feel old, or are just out of shape, you most certainly have a glutathione shortage. The British medical journal, The Lancet, discovered that glutathione levels were greatest in healthy young individuals, lower levels in healthy elderly, lower still in sick elderly, and lowest of all in hospitalized elderly.

Active Glutathione is Known as GSH

When it gets saturated from fulfilling its job of collecting free radicals, it  becomes inactive, although it tends to to rebuild itself in a healthy liver. Under ideal conditions, 10% of glutathione is inactive (or oxidized), while the remaining 90% is active. As active glutathione (also known as GSH) falls below 90% and permits inactive glutathione to rise over 10%, the fight for optimal health becomes a losing battle. When toxins accumulate, GSH levels drop even further. When GSH dips below 70%, the immune system is seriously compromised.

How can glutathione be increased in the body?

Certain foods include precursors that aid in the production of glutathione by the liver. Sulfur-rich foods such as garlic, onions and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, and watercress), as well as premium bioactive whey products and colostrum. You may also boost glutathione levels by eating more vitamin C or adding milk thistle or turmeric to your diet.

The rationale for implementing precursors to increase your liver’s ability to produce healthy glutathione levels is that supplemental glutathione has difficulty passing through the digestive system intact without being destroyed.

Exercise increases glutathione levels, which supports your immune system, detoxification, and your body’s natural antioxidant defenses. Begin slowly and gradually increase to 30 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each day, such as walking or running, or participating in various sports. Strength exercise for 20 minutes three times a week might also be beneficial.

Other supplements which can help increase healthy glutathione levels include:

• A good all-around organic, whole-food derived nutritional supplement.
• N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been used for many years to help boost glutathione. Time release NAC is the best option for keeping levels high throughout the day.
• Methylation nutrients, (chewable option) including folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are critical to keep the body producing and recycling glutathione.
• Selenium helps the body recycle and produce more glutathione.
• The family of antioxidants which includes vitamins C and vitamin E (in the form of mixed tocopherols) work together to recycle glutathione.
• Milk thistle (silymarin) helps increase glutathione levels and is famed for its ability to cleanse, protect, and regenerate the liver.
• NAC and milk thistle combo supplement

It is also worth noting that alpha-lipoic acid is a close second to glutathione in terms of importance for our cells. It is involved in energy production, blood sugar control, brain health, and detoxification.

Sources and references:

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