The benefits of glutathione, the top antioxidant

     What is all the fuss about glutathione (pronounced gloo-tuh-thai-own)?  Glutathione is a substance made from the amino-acids glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine. It is in every single cell of your body and is considered your body’s master antioxidant.

     It has been studied as able to fight cancer, support your immune system and biohackers love it for its anti-aging qualities. It supports the muscular system, would help with brain fog, Alzheimer’s disease and insulin resistance. Its properties are diverse, but its main support would come from reducing inflammation and supporting the liver in its detoxification processes essentially.

     That sounds amazing, doesn’t it? So, you would ask me how do I get it?  We love in these articles writing about food as medicine. So, a legitimate question would be, is food enough?

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      Food plays an important role and should always be incorporated when looking for an answer to health. As Hippocrates said many years ago “Let food be that medicine”. Some good sources of glutathione are found in avocados, asparagus, the cruciferous family, garlic, onions, cucumber, okra, green beans…foods that are high in sulphur and help increase the levels of glutathione in the body.  Apart from these sources naturally rich in this antioxidant you could add some of the supporting foods and herbs. Foods rich in vitamin C are helpful with glutathione levels as it helps your body maintain its levels of antioxidants which glutathione is part of. Polyphenol containing foods are also associated with higher levels of glutathione. Here you could think in terms of turmeric, dark chocolate, grapes, even wine.

Omega 3 containing foods, as well as selenium and whey proteins are some of the other sources which would support the production of the master antioxidant in the body and support you achieve optimal health.

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     These days though it is very common to hear about intravenous supplementation and the use of some herbs (milk thistle) which could activate the therapeutic levels of glutathione in your body so your cells can thrive and the liver - the organ containing the highest amount of glutathione- can do its job properly.

Your liver is an incredible organ which supports detoxification of the body and in its DNAge when we are burdened by so many toxins, whether from the air we breathe, to the products we put on our skin or the food we eat if nonorganic, glutathione is essential as it can be rapidly depleted by the oxidative stress. As we age the levels of glutathione can decrease and as a result the liver would not be fully supported in its multiple functions.

     So, whether you are looking at improving your health, maybe your recovery time when exercising, or sleeping better, time to pack up on this amazing antioxidant. Start with food and lifestyle changes, and if you feel that you need a boost, maybe consider a supplement form to achieve therapeutic ranges or an IV. Make sure you consult with a professional before doing so to make sure you are safe and will not suffer some of the side effects (vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, skin rashes, change in your blood pressure) that could happen with a very large dose. As ever listen to your body.