What Is Glutathione?

How would you like to get your hands on a magic ingredient that helps your body repair a multitude of conditions caused by stress, pollution, radiation, infection, drugs, poor diet, aging, injury, and trauma, to mention just a few? What if it was a naturally occurring substance which acts as an antioxidant, an immune system booster, and a detoxifier? Even better! More and more researchers are saying that the antioxidant glutathione, pronounced “gloota-thigh-own,” can do all that and maybe more. However, can you believe such sweeping claims? What's the evidence to back them up? Often referred to as the body's master antioxidant, biologically, glutathione is a peptide comprised of three amino acids, cysteine, glutamate and glycine, which can be found in virtually every cell of the human body. The highest concentration of glutathione is in the liver, making it critical in the body's detoxification process. In his article Essential Glutathione: The Mother of All Antioxidants, Dr. Mark Hyman shares the good news that your body produces its own glutathione. However, he also goes on to outline the bad news that “poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, infections, and radiation all deplete your glutathione.”

Why Do We Need Glutathione?

Let’s take a closer look at what is glutathione. As you’ll discover, the molecule acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body and primarily works inside of cells rather than in the intercellular fluid. Glutathione voraciously scavenges oxidizing agents and is known for its anti-aging power as well as its benefit in fighting cancer, heart disease, dementia, and other chronic diseases. It’s also essential for treating everything, from autism through Alzheimer’s disease and more.

Could You Be Glutathione Deficient?

Dr. Hyman, while treating chronically ill patients, has found that nearly all have a glutathione deficiency. These include people suffering with the following chronic conditions:

• 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

He goes on to say that “problems occur when we are overwhelmed with too much oxidative stress or too many toxins. Then the glutathione becomes depleted, and we can no longer protect ourselves against free radicals, infections, or cancer, and we can’t get rid of toxins. This leads to further sickness and soon we are in the downward spiral of chronic illness.” Glutathione is essential in helping your immune system do its job of fighting infections and preventing cancer. Studies show that it can even help in the treatment of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is also the most critical and integral part of your detoxification system.Toxins stick onto glutathione, which then carries them into the bile and the stool—and, ultimately, out of your body.

How to Boost Glutathione in Your Body

There are many reasons why your body’s glutathione level may become depleted, including poor diet, chronic disease, infection, and constant stress. Glutathione is also known to decrease with age. Maintaining adequate levels of this antioxidant is incredibly essential. Healthline suggests the following natural ways to increase your glutathione levels:

1. Consume sulfur-rich foods such as cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, watercress, and mustard greens.
2. Increase your vitamin C intake, which is found in a variety of foods, particularly fruits and vegetables.
3. Add selenium-rich foods to your diet: eat brown rice, wheat products, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, and Brazil nuts.
4. Eat foods naturally rich in glutathione, which include asparagus, the highest plant-based source of glutathione, okra, rice, a variety of spices, rosemary, and avocados, to mention just a few.
5. Milk thistle.
6. Turmeric extract.
7. Get enough sleep.
8. Exercise regularly.
9. Avoid drinking alcohol.

Supplementation

While you focus on improving your overall health through a diet rich in plant-based foods, you could also add some targeted supplementation in the form of the Hallelujah Diet®’s Selenium Glutathione Promoter, which is a combination of selenium and select antioxidants designed to boost your immune system defenses.

Takeaway

To help stimulate and ensure adequate levels of glutathione production in the body, be sure to seek out natural sources of the antioxidant. Since glutathione production tends to slow with age, be sure to promote your body’s natural ability to stimulate the production of this master antioxidant and detoxifier. While you do this, you can fall in love with food again by experimenting with some of our recipes. Not only will you find them to be highly nutritious, but you’ll also find them easy to prepare.