Learn How to Boost Your Glutathione Naturally

Glutathione: The Master Anti-Oxidant:

The human body is under oxidative stress from a variety of sources at all times.  To combat this stress and damage the body utilizes anti-oxidants of all different varieties.  Glutathione (GSH) is a very special peptide molecule that provides the greatest anti-oxidant protection and recharges other anti-oxidants within the body (1).

Every cell in the body produces glutathione.  Many longevity scientists believe that the level of glutathione in our cells is predicative of how long we will live (2, 3, 4).  This is logical considering the wealth of essential bodily processes that glutathione plays a critical role in.

Glutathione has been coined with the term master anti-oxidant due to its essential role in maintaining exogenous anti-oxidants such as vitamin C & E in their active form (5, 6).  Glutathione is like the cells security guard protecting the genetic equipment from outside attack.

It is estimated that each cell in the body withstands 10,000 hits by free radicals each day.  Glutathione disarms these free radicals before they wreak havoc and cleans up the oxidative stress related damage that has occurred.

SignificanceofGlutathione

Glutathione’s Role in Immunity:

Glutathione plays a significant role in immune function (7).  Studies have shown that glutathione strengthens T cells which are critical for modulating the immune system appropriately (8).These are the cells that coordinate the attack against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc. while keeping tissue damage and auto-immune responses in check.  An overactive immune system can trigger allergies and auto-immune disease processes.

Glutathione fights against cellular toxins and works to eliminate carcinogens from the intracellular environment while healing damaged cells.  Glutathione is constantly in action protecting the body against disease, toxins, viruses, pollutants, radiation, drugs and oxidative stress (9).  When damage does occur, it immediately goes to work repairing the free radical damage.

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Glutathione Protects the Brain:

If sufficient glutathione is not available, the toxins will overload the liver and lead to fat soluble toxins being stored in fatty tissues.  The central nervous system, breasts, & prostate are the most susceptible areas.  Many researchers credit the increase in neurological disease and cancer to depleted cellular glutathione (10, 11, 12).  The brain produces more free radicals than any other tissues and is therefore in need of more glutathione than any other region.

Levels of glutathione begin to decline with aging as the majority of individuals in our society become more toxic and deficient.  Additionally, our society has more environmental toxicity than ever before so there is a significant need for more glutathione production.  Unfortunately, our modern world diets are void of the necessary precursors for this critical agent.

BenefitsofGlutathione

Aging Declines Glutathione Production:

By age 20, scientists estimate that the average person loses glutathione at 8-12% per decade (13).  Increased health challenges from infection, poor diet, smoking, increased toxic load, medication usage, etc. can deplete these stores at a much faster rate.  Scientists estimate that a 30% reduction of glutathione is enough for cellular dysfunction to occur.

Studies have shown that adequate vitamin D is necessary for optimal glutathione production (14).  The vast majority of our society is extremely deficient in vitamin D (15).  Optimal vitamin D levels should be between 60-100 ng/ml.

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Glutathione Precursers in the Diet:

Glutathione precursors such as glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine should naturally be consumed through our diet.  The best vegetable sources include avocados, onions, spinach, & asparagus.  Herbs such as turmeric have also been shown to boost glutathione content.  Unfortunately, vegetable sources are still very low in these critical amino acids.

The best food sources are through high quality, non-denatured animal products.  These include non-denatured grass-fed whey protein and cultured, raw grass-fed dairy products and raw, organic eggs.  These cultured, raw grass-fed dairy products are an incredibly good source of highly bioavailable amino acids and offer more cysteine than any other food source.

Best Glutathione Supplements:

As a clinican, I recommend supplements to boost glutathione stores for nearly everyone.  This is because our society is so bombarded with toxins in the form of mental/emotional stressors, environmental chemicals in our air, water and food.  We are depleting our glutathione stores.

When we hit a critical mass where all of a sudden our glutathione levels are unable to keep up with the oxidative stress from our environment, our health goes down hill quickly!  This is when all of a sudden we have a significant rush of anti-body formation and the maturation of an auto-immune disease develops, we develop chronic pain or we have absolutely no energy anymore and/or tumors grow quickly (whether we know we have cancer or not).

21st century health is all about boosting our bodies anti-oxidant defense systems to protect the body from the onslaught of toxins and oxidative stress.  The best ways to boost glutathione from supplements includes formulated compounds that have key precursers such as glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine.

We can also look for herbs such as turmeric and milk thistle and sulfur compounds like MSM, N-acetyl cysteine and lipoic acid.  Selenium is a trace mineral that also helps increase glutathione levels. One product we use that combines a number of these forms of glutathione is Thyroliver protect which acts specifically to improve both the thyroid and liver function.

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Sources For This Article Include:

1. Huffington Post: Healthy Living Glutathione: The Mother of All AntioxidantsLink Here
2. Richie JP Jr, Leutzinger Y, Parthasarathy S, Malloy V, Orentreich N, Zimmerman JA. Methionine restriction increases blood glutathione and longevity in F344 rats. FASEB J. 1994 Dec;8(15):1302-7. PMID: 8001743
3. Alternative Medicine Glutathione: A Closer Look at the Master Antioxidant Link Here
4. Cascella R, Evangelisti E, Zampagni M, Becatti M, DAdamio G, Goti A, Liguri G, Fiorillo C, Cecchi C. S-linolenoyl glutathione intake extends life-span and stress resistance via Sir-2.1 upregulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014 Aug;73:127-35. PMID: 24835770
5. Oz: Glotathione: The Master Antioxidant Link Here
6. Mark Hyman: Essential Glutathione: The Mother of All Antioxidants
7. Dr W, Breitkreutz R.Glutathione and immune function. Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):595-600. PMID: 11115795
8. Chang WK, Yang KD, Chuang H, Jan JT, Shaio MF. Glutamine protects activated human T cells from apoptosis by up-regulating glutathione and Bcl-2 levels. Clin Immunol. 2002 Aug;104(2):151-60. PMID: 12165276
9. Nicola Traverso, Roberta Ricciarelli, Mariapaola Nitti, et al., Role of Glutathione in Cancer Progression and Chemoresistance, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2013, Article ID 972913
10. Schnelldorfer T, Gansauge S, Gansauge F, Schlosser S, Beger HG, Nussler AK. Glutathione depletion causes cell growth inhibition and enhanced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer. 2000 Oct 1;89(7):1440-7. PMID: 11013356
11. Nicola Traverso, Roberta Ricciarelli, Mariapaola Nitti, et al., Role of Glutathione in Cancer Progression and Chemoresistance,Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2013, Article ID 972913
12. Garrido M, Tereshchenko Y, Zhevtsova Z, Taschenberger G, B M, Kgler S. Glutathione depletion and overproduction both initiate degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons. Acta Neuropathol. 2011 Apr;121(4):475-85. PMID: 21191602
13. PHTPHarma: Oxition Link Here
14. Jain SK, Micinski D. Vitamin D upregulates glutamate cysteine ligase and glutathione reductase, and GSH formation, and decreases ROS and MCP-1 and IL-8 secretion in high-glucose exposed U937 monocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2013 Jul 19;437(1):7-11. PMID: 23770363
15. Holick MF, Chen TC. Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Apr;87(4):1080S-6S. PMID: 18400738

About the author:

Dr. David Dr. Jocker's 524A0552-200x300Jockers is a Maximized Living doctor, functional nutritionist, corrective care chiropractor, exercise physiologist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist. His mission is to inspire and empower as many people as possible to reach their full health potential.

He currently owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is also the author of the best-selling book Super Charge Your Brain the complete guide to radically improve your mood, memory and mindset.

 This article is shared with permission from our friends at Dr. Jockers .

 

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