Glutathione
What is Glutathione exactly?
Glutathione is the Master Antioxidant
Where do we get these antioxidants?
Glutathione is a "Superfood"
Glutathione is the "Life Extension Molecule"
What Is Glutathione?
Glutathione is often referred to as Master Anti-oxidant in the body. Glutathione (GSH) is a small protein molecule formed from the amino acids cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. Glutathione is manufactured inside your cells. Your cell's ability to make glutathione is directly determined by the supply of raw materials, or precursors. In particular, the amino acid cysteine.
Glutathione is a major antioxidant highly active in human lungs and many other organ systems and tissues. It has many reported uses. It has a critical role in protecting cells from oxidative stress and maintaining the immune system. Higher blood levels of glutathione have been associated with better health in elderly people, but the exact association between glutathione and the aging process has not been determined.
Antioxidants -- the most well known of which are vitamins C and E -- are important for good health because they neutralize free radicals, which can build up in cells and cause damage. Because glutathione exists within the cells, it is in a prime position to neutralize free radicals. It also has potentially widespread health benefits because it can be found in all types of cells, including the cells of the immune system, whose job is to fight disease.
Glutathione occurs naturally in many foods, and people who eat well probably have enough in their diets. Those with diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables and freshly prepared meats are most likely just fine. On the other hand, those with poor diets may get too little.
As a dietary supplement, Glutathione is used as an antioxidant to help protect the body from many diseases and conditions. It is also used to treat infertility (difficulty getting pregnant), cancer, cataracts, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Glutathione is used to detoxify various chemicals from the body.
Among the uses that have been reported for glutathione are:
- treatment of poisoning, particularly heavy metal poisons
- treatment of idiopathic pulmonary firbosis
- increasing the effectiveness and reducing the toxicity of cis-platinum, a chemo drug used to treat breast cancer
- treating Parkinson's disease
- lowering blood pressure in patients with diabetes
- increasing male sperm counts in humans and animals
- treatment of liver cancer
- treatment of sickle cell anemia
Claims made about glutathione have included that it will increase energy, improve concentration, slow aging, and protect the skin.
The importance of glutathione is generally recognized, although its specific functions and appropriate clinical use remain under study. Similarly, because ingested glutathione has little or no effect on intracellular glutathione levels, there are questions regarding the optimal method for raising the intracellular levels.
Glutathione is the Master Antioxidant
Glutathione is your body's master antioxidant and one of the most important cleansing and healing agents. Glutathione blocks free radical damage and helps to recycle Vitamins E and C, therefore plays a key role in their function. Because Glutathione exists within the cells, it is in a prime position to neutralize free radicals. The highest concentration of glutathione is found in the liver which is the principal organ involved in the detoxification and elimination of toxic materials.
Glutathione may also help with detoxification by binding to toxins such as heavy metals, solvents and pesticides, allowing them to be excreted in urine or bile.
Where do we get these antioxidants?
Nature provides these through fresh "whole" fruits and vegetables which are full of them. Asparagus, avocados and walnuts are particularly rich dietary sources of Glutathione. (It is important to eat only whole foods for optimal health.) Some important ones to look for are vitamins A, C, E, and Selenium. In the case of glutathione, the source is dairy in the form of whey protein isolates. High quality nutritional supplements also provide effective antioxidants.
Glutathione is a "Superfood"
Glutathione is one of the 14 Superfoods listed in "SuperFoods Rx : Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life", co-authored by Dr. S. Pratt, an authority on food and aging.
The list is based on an exhaustive study of the scientific research behind the world's best daily diets, and includes the 14 nutrients that show up consistently in the most health-promoting, disease-preventing, anti-aging diets in the world. As a food supplement, Glutathione improves the health of the following:
- Smoker
- Alcohol drinker
- Those 40 years old and above (feel and look younger)
- Low sperm count
- Those with liver problems
- Those with cataracts
- Those recovering from chemotherapy
- Those exposed to chemical and pesticides
- The immune compromised
- Low immune system
- Those who want to have fairer and whiter skin
- Those who want to have a healthy and blemish-free skin.
Glutathione is the "Life Extension Molecule"
Low glutathione levels are found in immune comprodegenerative diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, ALS, Alzheimer's, and individuals with neuro-Parkinson's disease, atherosclerosis, male infertility, pregnancy complications, cataracts.
High levels of glutathione appear to protect against the dangers of cancer, heart disease, premature aging, autoimmune diseases, damage from many pharmaceutical drugs, and chronic illnesses.
