Many of the benefits are lost when food is cooked, however. Certain
nutritional supplements, such as pine bark extract, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle
and grape extract can also increase glutathione levels.
While there are many glutathione
tablets and supplements on the market, a
1992 study by the University of Bern,
Switzerland, found that oral administration
of glutathione capsules does NOT raise
glutathione levels.
Because it is a protein, a large amount of
ingested glutathione is broken down by the gut and eliminated before reaching
the cells. Glutathione is best absorbed by the body when given by intravenous
infusion, which is often done in cases of severe disease. This is of course
impractical in everyday life.
The most effective way to increase glutathione levels, along with eating a
healthy diet and taking regular exercise, is to ingest a precursor. This
contains the molecules needed to stimulate the body to produce glutathione,
rather than the protein itself.
One such micro-nutrient is N-AcetylCysteine, also known as NAC. This has
been used for many years to break up
mucus in the lungs in patients suffering
from cystic fibrosis, asthma and bronchitis,
and is often used by HIV patients to boost
their immune system.
Unbonded L-cysteine, or free
cysteine, is destroyed in the gut by
enzymes and pepsins, but if the cysteine molecules are bonded, it will be
absorbed into the bloodstream and enter cells. There it can bond
with glycine and glutamate to make more glutathione.
This bonded cysteine is also found in human breast milk, and can be
replicated with raw cows milk in the form of undenatured whey protein.Large
doses of NAC are often given in cases of acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose to
prevent liver failure. Daily doses of 500mg or more of Vitamin C have also
been found to increase production of glutathione.
To effectively increase male fertility, the aspiring father should also look to
consume other scientifically proven nutrients such as Arginine, Carnitine and
Pine Bark Extract. The most efficient and affordable to take a combination
supplement with several proven male fertility micro-nutrients. These will
positively affect sperm count, motility and morphology simultaneously.
Compare the best male fertility supplements with coenzyme Vitamin D
and amino acids such as L-Carnitine, L-Arginine and Cysteine (NAC) for Lglutathione
Glutathione has also been used to treat asthma and airway restriction when
used as an inhalant. A 2010 study by the University of Utrecht found that it
prevents early asthmatic reaction and airway hyper-responsiveness.
Psychiatric illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression
have been linked to low levels of glutathione as without its antioxidant abilities
in the brain, oxidative stress can occurs there.
It is generally advisable to build a high level of Glutathione in ones blood to
protect the body from oxidation (damage to the tissue by free radicals).
Oxidative stress plays significant roles in cancer, but also in Artherosclerosis,
Arthritis and Cataract.
More Ingredients to Look For
A quality glutathione complex will not only contain a bioavailable form of GSH,
it should also contain the precursors to help produce glutathione naturally. Some
of the nutrients capable of increasing GSH levels include N Acetylcysteine
(NAC), Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), Milk Thistle, B Vitamins (L-methylfolate,
Methylcobalamin),
Vitamin
E
(mixed
or
alphatocopherols), Magnesium and Selenium.
The above are some of the most important ingredients to look for, but other
additions like Vitamin D3, Vitamin C and Ubiquinol CoQ10 are also beneficial
to incorporate into your supplement regimen to improve cellular function and
glutathione synthesis.
Benefits of Using a Quality GSH Supplement
Now that we have covered what all a quality glutathione supplement entails,
lets explore some of the benefits of effectively increasing GSH levels.
Immune Function
Glutathione is keystone for our immune system, when GSH levels are low, so is
our immunity. By boosting GSH levels you are increasing your bodys ability to
fight off infection and illness.
When we fall ill or are battling a disease, our glutathione stores are rapidly used
up to help combat the problem, making it even more important to boost levels
when our health is compromised. By boosting levels and maintaining them, you
are preparing your body to deal with illness and infection before it has a chance
to take hold and become an issue. So you can think of glutathione as one of the
best preventatives as well as an effective treatment for many health conditions.
Anti-Aging
Everyone is concerned with aging, we want to stay young and vibrant for as
long as possible. Well, aging may be inevitable, but feeling old is very
preventable.
Free radicals and oxidative
damage are some of the leading
causes of aging. They damage
our cells and bog down our
body, leaving us feeling tired,
old and generally unhealthy.
They also contribute to the
many undesirable cosmetic
changes that we associate with
old age. Good thing there is a
solution to help eliminate free radicals and help prevent their formation, here is
a hint, it begins with G.
Anti-Inflammatory
Inflammation is deadly, pure and simple. It is considered to be a leading
cause of virtually every disease we know of. Yes it is a natural and even healthy
immune response, but when it persists longer than necessary it can lead to
severe health problems and chronic pain.
Supporting glutathione levels can help detoxify the brain and ensure heavy
metal deposits never get a chance to damage the brain severely. This can help
ward off the root cause of many cognitive disorders and even improve cognitive
function and memory throughout the aging process. [5]
Skin Health and Appearance
As a premier anti-aging antioxidant, glutathione is widely used to help fight
the signs of aging. Used both topically in glutathione creams as well as orally
ingested in pill or capsule form, glutathione can yield immense skin health
benefits.
Our skin is the first line of defence against infection and disease, this is why
it has such a high concentration of antioxidants compared to deeper tissue.
Subsequently, when our health is compromised the health and appearance of our
skin suffers. This is why free radicals and oxidative damage are the biggest
threats to young, healthy looking skin.
By supporting glutathione levels, you are improving the quality of your skin,
translating into a healthy glow and a reduction in wrinkles and dry spots. It is
also commonly used topically as a skin whitener, because of its ability to reduce
melanin production. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color, by
reducing melanin production you can get the appearance of whiter and
sometimes clearer skin. The efficacy of glutathione for skin whitening is a
controversial subject, however many experts believe it is effective.
Why YOU Need More L-Glutathione
The above benefits are remarkable, and they are only a small piece of the
countless benefits of glutathione. This is why glutathione has been the subject of
over 115,000 medical studies, all exploring the plethora of profound health
benefits it has to offer.
The body does produce glutathione naturally, but it just isnt enough to
maintain an adequate level throughout a lifetime. Glutathione levels begin to
drop as we age, leaving us increasingly vulnerable to illness and infection as we
age. Couple this with the increasingly toxic environment we live in and the
nutrient depleted foods we eat, our body needs all the help it can get in order to
achieve and maintain optimal health. No need to strain yourself though,
optimizing your health can be as easy as supplementing with a complete Lglutathione complex daily.
Cataracts.
Glaucoma.
Preventing aging.
Treating or preventing alcoholism.
Asthma.
Cancer.
Heart disease.
High cholesterol levels.
Liver problems.
AIDS.
Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Memory loss.
Alzheimers disease.
Osteoarthritis.
Parkinsons disease.
Other conditions.
INHALED
Treating lung diseases.
Other conditions.
INTRAVENOUS
Treating Parkinsons disease.
Diabetes.
Anemia in people on hemodialysis.
Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).
Infertility in men.
Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate glutathione for these uses.
Function of Glutathione
Glutathione exists in both reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) states. In the
reduced state, the thiol group of cysteine is able to donate a reducing
equivalent (H++ e) to other unstable molecules, such as reactive oxygen species.
In donating an electron, glutathione itself becomes reactive, but readily reacts
with another reactive glutathione to form glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Such a
reaction is probable due to the relatively high concentration of glutathione in
cells (up to 5 mM in the liver).
GSH can be regenerated from GSSG by the enzyme glutathione
reductase (GSR): NADPH reduces FAD present in GSR to produce a transient
FADH-anion. This anion then quickly breaks a disulfide bond (Cys58 - Cys63)
and leads to Cys63's nucleophilically attacking the nearest sulfide unit in the
GSSG molecule (promoted by His467), which creates a mixed disulfide bond
(GS-Cys58) and a GS-anion. His467 of GSR then protonates the GS-anion to
form the first GSH. Next, Cys63 nucleophilically attacks the sulfide of Cys58,
releasing a GS-anion, which, in turn, picks up a solvent proton and is released
from the enzyme, thereby creating the second GSH. So, for every GSSG and
NADPH, two reduced GSH molecules are gained, which can again act as
antioxidants scavenging reactive oxygen species in the cell.
In healthy cells and tissue, more than 90% of the total glutathione pool is in the
reduced form (GSH) and less than 10% exists in the disulfide form (GSSG). An
increased GSSG-to-GSH ratio is considered indicative of oxidative stress.
Uses
Cancer
Once a tumor has been established, elevated levels of glutathione may act to
protect cancerous cells by conferring resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs
Cystic fibrosis
Several studies have been completed on the effectiveness of introducing inhaled
glutathione to people with cystic fibrosis with mixed results
Cosmetics
Glutathione utilizes different mechanisms to exert its action as skin whitening
agent at various levels of melanogenesis. It inhibits melanin synthesis by means
of stopping L-DOPAs ability to interact with tyrosinase in the process of
melanin production. Research result from a study shows that glutathione
inhibits the actual production as well as agglutination of melanin by interrupting
the function of L-DOPA. Another study found that glutathione inhibits melanin
formation by direct inactivation of the enzyme tyrosinase by binding
and chelating copper within the enzymes active site
2. Whey Protein
Whey protein replenishes glutathione by boosting cysteine which helps rebuild
glutathione when it is depleted from an immune response. According to a
recent studies, whey protein is the ideal supplement to help naturally increase
glutathione for both fighting cancer, strengthening the immune system,
increasing metabolism, and reducing appetite. Rich in glutathione, it is
extremely important to purchase the right type of whey protein. Avoid any whey
protein that is processed, or protein isolate. I recommend grass-fed why or goat
whey protein as a dietary supplement. You will want to use a whey
protein powder that is all natural or organic (when possible) and is completely
free of pesticides, hormones, genetically modified organisms, artificial
sweeteners and is gluten free.
3. Sulfur Foods
Since the mid-1990s, it has been a well-established fact that GSH
concentrations take a nosedive in the liver and lungs when sulphur amino acid
intake is inadequate. This is one of the many reasons I recommend sulfur-rich,
cancer-fighting cruciferous vegetables as a critical part of any natural health
regimen. These include:
Arugula
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Collard Greens
Kale
Mustard greens
Radish
Turnip
Watercress
4. NAC
The unbelievably effective asthma remedy N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) helps
decrease the severity and frequency of wheezing and respiratory attacks by
boosting glutathione and thinning bronchial mucus. NAC is actually a precursor
to GSH and it has recently been proven highly efficient at treating
neurocognitive issues like addiction, compulsive behaviors, schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder.
5. -Lipoic Acid
a-Lipoic Acid helps restore GSH levels with
any immune system depletion. In fact, it is
part of my Reverse Diabetes Naturally in 30
Days or Less plan. Only 300-1200 mg of
alpha lipoic acid daily helps improves insulin
sensitivity and reduces symptoms of diabetic
neuropathy. It has also been shown clinically
to restore total blood GSH status and
lymphocyte function in HIV/AIDS patients.
6. Methylation Nutrients (Vitamins B6, B9, B12, and biotin)
In the words of Dr. Mark Hyman, methylation ingredients are perhaps the most
critical to keep the body producing glutathione. The best (natural) way to keep
your methylation ingredients at optimal levels is to simply eat these
Top Folate Foods:
8. Vitamin C & E
Vitamin C helps raise glutathione in red blood cells and lymphocytes.
Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that works with GSH to prevent damage
from reactive oxygen and protects glutathione-dependent enzymes. So working
together, Vitamin C and E help recycle glutathione and keep you disease-free!
Eating these Top Vitamin C and Top Vitamin E foods should be on all of our
to-do lists. They together help keep glutathione at optimal levels and boost your
immune systems and overall body function!
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
9. Beef Liver
Not only is beef liver in my list of top selenium foods, but it has been shown to
boost selenium and gluthione
production better than supplements.
Studies have shown that because the
nutrition has been concentrated in
the liver, eating this organ from a
local grass-fed, organic cow is a
highly effective way to boost
glutathione levels and that the levels
of selenium in beef and in beef liver
are far more bioavailable than supplements. I recommend only getting highquality grass-fed beef liver either dried or raw and adding it to your diet to boost
selenium and glutathione production.