What is Glutathione?

What is Glutathione and how vital is it to one's health?

Glutathione is actually generated by the cells within the body. Every person already has it inside, but oftentimes it is at depleted levels due to toxins. This is a powerful antioxidant, detoxifier and it helps to builds immunity. When people talk about the body having the ability to heal itself, one of the reasons is because of glutathione. To really be able to understand all of the health benefits it has, one must first be able to understand the role it plays in the cells.

What Are The Health Benefits of Glutathione?

Glutathione is found naturally in the human body, the body of animals and also in plants. The cells produce this strong antioxidant, and it is vital to many process that take place within. It neutralizes radicals at the same time, all while stimulating the production of Vitamin C and Vitamin E. It is also essential for both biochemical and metabolic reactions that occur within the body. It can be tied to the health and vitality of every operating system.

It is also known to help regulate iron stabilization and nitric oxide cycle, which are vital to living. Without these regulations, a person wouldn't be able to live. Due to its importance, it's additionally often taken as a supplement to help boost a lacking immune system. It is also known to play key role in helping those who have an anti-inflammatory disease. Cancer patients are often give glutathione by injections. It is known to help counteract the effects of radiation. Those with a lung disease can take it as an inhalant. The uses are vast.

As a preventative measure, it can be taken to help keep glaucoma at bay, ward off heart disease, and shield the liver from hepatitis and other disease. The use for brain function cannot go unmentioned. It is known to help with memory loss and to prevent diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Understanding its Role as a Detoxifier

It's easy to see that it is wide-ranging in its uses. However, its role as a detoxifier should not go without notice. A detoxifier is an agent that removes harmful substances from within the body and its cells. For the liver, it helps purify and rid metals and other harmful chemicals that end up dumping in this vital organ. The body has two main toxins it constantly fights, Mycotoxin and Phthalates. Mycotoxin is basically a form of mold. It can be found in various grains, nuts and seeds. Even if a home is dry, mold can still grow in hidden places, like the air ducts, and be ingested without even realizing it. When they are ingested at higher levels, it can lead to debilitating fatigue, respiratory issues, and joint problems. In severe cases, it can lead to heart issues and even rashes.

Phthalate is the scariest of the toxins. It is often released in everyday used plastic containers and can be absorbed into the body. Those water bottles that people drink out of, they are full of Phthalate. In fact, anything that is plastic will have this toxin in its makeup. Things like toys, make-up, clothes and even furniture have trace amounts. The problem is that when absorbed in large quantities, it can cause reproductive issues, birth defects in children, developmental delays and can alter that natural hormonal balance. Male hormones can be at risk and genital development in men can be a problem. This can lead to E.D. or erectile dysfunction later in life.

It's Not Just To Remove Bad, It Also Promotes Good

Thankfully, the use of glutathione is not just to help with daunting health possibilities, it also can help in good ways too. When a person exercises, they use the glutathione that they have stored in the body. Ever feel exhausted after exercising? This is because the storage of glutathione has been depleted. During exercise, the body produced Adenosine Triphosphate, or ATP, and this helps to power the cells during a normal workout. ATP causes free radicals to be produced. When there is no glutathione left in the cells, it cannot clean up the radicals. The body has to recover from these dangerously low levels, and if it doesn't do so, then it is vulnerable to damages.

A Supplement Can Change Everything for the Better

Taking a simple oral glutathione pill / supplement doesn't help much because the actual glutathione is broken down in the stomach before it can be delivered to the cells. On the other hand glutathione enhancing supplements that provide the body with the precursors it needs to produce its own glutathione naturally will guarantee that the body has more antioxidants, and this leaves it less open to exposure to harmful toxins. When the body is abundant in glutathione, then it is able to be exercised without harmful effects. Recovery time is not needed when these levels are at optimal concentrations. A supplement allows the body to function at an optimal level, and it doesn't need to work harder to produce the glutathione that is needed for strenuous workouts.

Slow The Hands of Time

Growing old is something that is scary to everyone. As a person begins to age, their attractive physical traits tend to disappear and they are replaced with lines, wrinkles and oftentimes health issues. There is no "Fountain of Youth" and no one can erase the hands of time, but there is a way to slow them down a bit. Glutathione slows down the aging process substantially. When a person ages, it is mostly due to a large build-up of toxins that are inside their being. An antioxidant has the power to combat these harmful toxins and thus can halt the aging process.

The liver is a vital organ in the body because it filters everything coming and going. When it is not working properly, a supplement of glutathione will help it to rejuvenate, and it will work as it should. Keeping the glutathione at optimum levels turns the body into an energy powerhouse that functions properly. Those who are at the right level will notice that their energy levels are higher than normal too.

While glutathione sounds like a miracle treatment, it is not. It must be used with a healthy diet and a reduction of stress. When exercising, the brain releases chemicals that boost the mood and eliminate stress. The right diet does much to keep the glutathione high, then adding a supplement on top puts it at power house levels. This powerful combination helps the body to thwart the signs of aging. Most people look, act and feel much younger just by eating healthy, reducing stress and taking this supplement.

Why Glutathione Should Be In Everyone's Regimen

For many years people turned to Western Medicine to try to find answers to their failing bodies. However, as time has passed it has been discovered that the body has the ability to heal itself from the harm caused by years of damage. As studies continue, little supplements, like glutathione, can change the way a person feels and looks. It has the ability to slow the aging process, rejuvenate the liver and make one feel amazing. As a person begins to age, there are many hazards that they have to fear, like falling. By boosting the cells production of this antioxidant, it helps to thwart off inflammatory conditions and to keep the body healthy. Taking a glutathione enhancing supplement can change a life for the better.

Glutathione Health Benefits - Master Antioxidant and Natural Detoxifier

Some of the major health benefits resulting from boosting your natural glutathione levels include better sleep, less stress, increased energy, greater mental focus, reduced risk of catching colds & influenza, greater athletic performance and muscle recovery. The human body has an amazing self-healing ability largely due to the master antioxidant “Glutathione” that is found in every cell of the body. The well-known and substantial health benefits of Vitamin C are insignificant when compared with glutathione. At the cellular health level glutathione a small and fragile molecule powerfully boosts the immune system and detoxifies the liver and cells, removing most heavy metals and environmental toxins from the body. Glutathione provides energy in the form of ATP and it enables other antioxidants to work more efficiently due to its electron recycling capabilities.

Glutathione is produced naturally within the body from amino acids and is an essential life supporting element of every cell. Sadly, as we grow older the body’s ability to produce glutathione declines, that’s just part of the normal aging process. By providing the body with additional nutrients (i.e. the building blocks, such as cysteine) you can maintain healthy levels of glutathione into your middle age and the golden years. From a cosmetic point-of-view glutathione is believed to have anti-aging and skin whitening properties.

In summary, glutathione has been shown to significantly reduce inflammation, providing relief from joint discomfort and reduce the risk of inflammatory-related diseases.

What is Glutathione and What are its Health Benefits?

Glutathione is the body's natural master antioxidant that is present in and produced in every single cell. It is produced in our bodies by combining three simple amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine. These building block proteins are important in their own right, but the glutathione that they form has numerous crucial body functions that contribute to good health. Thus, keeping your glutathione at proper levels will be a positive influence on your overall health and wellness.

Why is glutathione essential for good health?

Glutathione has three major health benefits:

• As the body's premier antioxidant, it reduces the risk of inflammatory diseases, such as heart attack, arthritis, hay fever, and even cancer.
• It is a powerful detoxifier that eliminates numerous harmful chemicals as well as the majority of heavy metals.
• It enhances immune and cellular health, thus fighting hard against infections.

Glutathione works as an antioxidant, but it also recycles many of the body's other antioxidants. This, in turn, reduces oxidative stress and risk of inflammatory-related diseases. As most chronic disease is associated with inflammation, the net result is a significantly reduced risk of health problems. Some doctors believe this extremely effective antioxidant may assist in preventing and fighting cancer.

By capturing unwelcome free radicals, glutathione acts as a powerful detoxifier. Free radicals can be harmful to the body's cells if they are not quickly eliminated. These toxins are passed along from vitamin C, to vitamin E, to lipoic acids, to glutathione, and then are finally disposed of. It is a long, complicated process, but without it, the human body would suffer greatly. Glutathione is an essential element in this "detox chain" that promotes cellular health. Glutathione also removes many heavy metals, such as mercury, that can do damage to the body when present in too-high concentrations. The sulfur present in glutathione has a "sticky" quality that holds onto damaging elements in the body until they can be safely removed. This whole process does cause glutathione to undergo a chemical change, but it is naturally recycled to its original state by the body so that it can be used all over again.

One of the best health benefits of glutathione is its ability to boost the immune system and enhance the body’s self-healing ability. Immune health can be a fragile thing, and ubiquitous, small molecules can interfere with it. Glutathione combats the very elements that can throw your immune system into imbalance. It is among the essential nutrients that your body needs.

The three main health benefits above-listed are by no means the only ones to be gained from glutathione. It also has been shown, for example, to aid in DNA repair, help with liver health, be a skin whitener, be a significant anti-aging agent, increase energy levels, help with athletic performance, and improve sleep patterns. In short, glutathione is a crucial element for overall human health and vitality.

What problems are associated with low glutathione levels?

Studies of the severely ill have revealed a correspondence between low glutathione levels and poor health. This is especially so if toxicity levels in the body have become so high that recycling of glutathione is depressed and cannot eliminate toxins fast enough.

Some of the many diseases associated with improperly low glutathione levels include: chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, heart disease, liver disease, kidney malfunction, asthma, diabetes, arthritis, autism, auto-immune disease, and various chronic infections.

The hospital beds are full of people with low glutathione quantities. This is more than a mere coincidence, for studies are beginning to show that improvements in some such patients can be induced through increasing their glutathione levels.

What causes a drop in glutathione levels in the body?

A poor diet, a lack of exercise, a high level of oxidative stress, an overload of toxins, radiation, too many medications, infections, traumatic experiences, and the general effects of aging can all lead to depletion of glutathione. These things can also negatively affect the body's ability to recycle glutathione and to protect itself from further problems.

These causes are unfortunately common in our modern, canned-food society. Food sources are frequently high-speed, highly convenient, and well-preserved, but not nearly as often are they healthy. Poor diet can chronically weaken our bodies until they are susceptible to numerous ailments. One effect of the poor dietary habits and lack of adequate exercise that prevails these days is a depletion of glutathione. This then contributes to a whole slew of other health problems that a lack of this critical chemical entails.

How can healthy levels of glutathione be restored?

There are basically three ways to restore your glutathione to a healthy level:

• Make it a habit to consume sulfur-rich food items.
• Keep up a sensible, regular exercise program.
• Take various supplements.

A healthy diet does wonders for the body. When it comes to keeping up your glutathione levels, it is especially important to eat plenty of foods rich in sulfur. The main ones to aim at are cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and collard greens.

Exercise helps to boost glutathione production in your body. Thus, we have here yet one more reason that being physically active is conducive to bolstering your immune system and overall health. Natural detoxification will also be aided by a regular exercise program.

Taking glutathione directly by mouth does not result in a good absorption rate, and most will not desire to take it intravenously. Therefore, many opt to ingest the precursors that the body needs to build glutathione rather than the glutathione itself. Some supplements do not even contain the precursors but simply aid in boosting production or recycling rates of glutathione.

Some of the supplements used to increase glutathione levels are: bioactive whey protein, N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle, vitamins C and E, vitamins B6 and B12, and selenium.

Conclusion: Glutathione is produced naturally within every cell of your body and is essential for good health. It reduces inflammation, improves immune health, and aids in combating environmental toxins. An unhealthy lifestyle often lowers glutathione to dangerous levels, leading to serious health problems. Eating high-sulfur foods, exercising regularly, and taking certain dietary supplements can help one restore his or her intracellular glutathione to healthy levels. Now is the time to enjoy the significant health benefits that come from boosting your Glutathione levels naturally.

On the pages of this website you will discover exactly what glutathione does for us and how it is produced in every cell of your body. Glutathione plays a major role in protecting us from chronic illness associated with inflammation. In addition to increased energy levels many professional athletes have achieved greater performance and faster recovery from boosting their glutathione levels. As you explore further you will also learn how to boost your Glutathione levels naturally with highly effective nutritional supplements from Max International. If you are really serious about maintaining good health then you need to ensure your immune system is functioning at its peak.

Sadly, glutathione taken orally as a dietary supplement is ineffective, in fact it’s a serious waste of money. The reason is that glutathione is a very fragile organic compound (tripeptide produced from three amino acids) that is largely destroyed by the gastrointestinal system. Our bodies can only absorb a small faction of glutathione taken orally. In hospital emergency wards glutathione is administered intravenously to people suffering from a drug overdose with amazing results. IV glutathione is impractical and way too expensive for the average person. Some rich super-stars do however have regular injections of glutathione for its skin whitening properties.

You will certainly enjoy long-term health benefits if you boost your body’s immune system capability with glutathione. This claim is supported by more than 100,000 clinical studies carried out over the past 40 years. Do you want to learn more? Well a good place to start is to discover what internal and external factors deplete or reduce natural glutathione production and how you can maintain healthy levels of it.

Glutathione is both an antioxidant and a powerful detoxifier for the body that boosts the immune system promoting anti-aging and improving cellular function. Research has shown glutathione increases energy and endurance in top athletes as well as reducing recovery time. Normal people report less muscle aches and joint pain due to the anti-inflammatory properties of glutathione. It improves internal organ function, enhancing the immune system and slows the normal aging process. Brain activity / mental focus improves as does the complexion, many people rave over the skin whitening side effects of glutathione.

The BAD News: our body's ability to produce glutathione starts to decline from the early 20’s. Sadly, it’s part of the normal aging process whereby glutathione production drops off by as much as 10% to 15% every decade. On top of that, both physical and mental stress, injury and environmental toxins are believed to further reduce your body’s glutathione levels.

Effective glutathione supplementation has been quite a challenge! How can we get glutathione to the cells that need it when the digestive process destroys it?

Finally there is the GOOD News: Recent research has resulted in a system to deliver the precursor nutrients or building blocks into the blood stream that enable the body to produce glutathione naturally and repetitively.

However, there are several questions still unanswered:

• What are the Health Benefits of glutathione?
• Why do I need to worry about glutathione when my body produces it naturally?
• Does everybody need to boost their glutathione levels?
• Why is the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables not enough to maintain healthy glutathione levels?
• Can glutathione be taken in a pill or capsule form?
• Are glutathione supplements commonly available from health-food stores effective?
• What are glutathione precursors?
• How does glutathione work to remove chemical toxins from the body?

What you should know about this master antioxidant

You may be asking what is Glutathione and why haven't I heard of it before this time?
You may have heard of glutathione before if you have studied nutrition or medicine. However, most people have not heard of glutathione and have no idea what it is and what it does in our bodies. Glutathione is actually the most powerful antioxidant. It is sometimes referred to as the master antioxidant. Antioxidants protect the cells in the human body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Free radicals are substances such as heavy metals that can damage the cells in our bodies.

Glutathione is Essential for Life

The fragile molecule known as glutathione is an essential element for us like water and oxygen. It is ubiquitous, meaning that it is found in every single cell in the human body. Glutathione is vital for the life processes in our cells to occur. In fact, embryos that have defects that do not enable them to produce glutathione die off. People who have genetic defects that make them unable to control the amount of glutathione they produce usually develop many health problems in their lives, including fatal diseases such as cancer.

Glutathione's Structure and Creation in our Body

Glutathione is a small fragile molecule that is naturally produced within each and every cell of our body. It is found in great concentration in the liver, where it assists our body’s natural detox process. Glutathione is a protein. You may recall from biology class in high school or college that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Glutathione, like all other proteins is made up of amino acids. The three amino acids that make up glutathione are glycine, glutatmine, and cysteine.

Glutathione also contains sulfur chemical groups. Sulfur is an element that is known for its yellow color, stickiness and strong smell. In glutathione molecules, the sulfur chemical groups act like magnets that attract harmful free radicals and environmental toxins such as poisonous heavy metals. Once the toxic substances are stuck to the sulfur chemical groups in glutathione they are excreted by the cells along with other waste products such as carbon dioxide and water. The sulfur chemical groups are why glutathione is such a powerful detoxifier that removes many heavy metals and other toxic substances from our cells.

Exploring the Health Benefits of Glutathione

Glutathione has numerous health benefits. In excess of 100,000 scientific publications validate the importance of glutathione in regards to health, disease prevention and well-being. This is much more than any other antioxidant and glutathione has about twice as many publications about it than vitamin C, which is also a powerful antioxidant. Glutathione enhances the body's self-healing ability. DETOX AGENT: It promotes cellular health by assisting our cells to remove toxic substances. Did you know there are hidden toxins in many of the household cleaning and personal care products we use everyday? It is possible to have a Toxin-Free Home by carefully studying the product labels to avoid dangerous toxic chemicals.

Boosting the natural production of glutathione within the body increases energy levels, improves sleep quality and increases athletic performance. Glutathione also has anti-aging properties, is a skin whitener and improves overall vitality. It also plays an important role in DNA repair which is crucial for cell health and cell development. Proper DNA repair is crucial in preventing abnormalities such as cancers from developing in our cells. Glutathione also boosts the immune system which helps us fight off infections and reduces inflammation. A high level of glutathione has been associated with a reduced risk of inflammatory-related diseases such as arthritis. Most chronic disease is associated with inflammation.

How Glutathione Impacts our Health

So how does glutathione affect our health? What else does it do besides removing heavy metals and protecting our cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals that have entered our cells? Glutathione recycles other antioxidants. What this means is that Glutathione allows our cells to reuse antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E to protect ourselves from free radicals. Think of glutathione as a recycling plant that reprocesses antioxidants so they can used over and over in a cell to protect the cell from the harmful effects of free radicals.

Free Radicals and Antioxidants

What are free radicals and why are they harmful to us? Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are missing an electron. They are highly reactive and will attack the nearest stable molecule they can find to steal its electron. Molecules that are attacked by free radicals turn into free radicals themselves because they lose an electron and become unstable. As you can see free radicals, if left unchecked can start a chain reaction of creating more and more free radicals which can disrupt a cell and cause damage to the cell. Antioxidants play a crucial role in neutralizing the effects of free radicals. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C neutralize free radicals by giving away one of their electrons to a free radical to make it a stable molecule that will not attack other molecules. Antioxidants are stable molecules even if they give away one of their electrons, this is why they are able to neutralize free radicals in the body. Their ability to give away an electron to a free radical and turn it into a stable molecule is what gives antioxidants their protective power.

Glutathione has many beneficial impacts on our Health

Glutathione is essential for other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E to do their job of protecting our cells. Without glutathione antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E would be unable to neutralize free radicals. This would lead to cell damage, disease and premature aging. Glutathione also recycles antioxidants to provide continuous protection for our body's cells. Without constant antioxidant protection created by glutathione our cells would quickly disintegrate and we would become ill. Glutathione is also necessary for our body to use the essential nutrients we get every day from our food such as calcium, iron, carbohydrates and fats. If you were lacking glutathione and you were to eat an incredibly healthy diet, your body would still use very little of the nutrients and vitamins from the food. This is because glutathione is necessary four our body to digest, absorb and use essential nutrients and vitamins. As you can see in order to use nutrients and benefit from a healthy diet your body needs glutathione. Regular nutrients and vitamins are not of much value if your body has a glutathione deficiency. Glutathione helps the body maximize the benefits of the nutrients and vitamins we consume from a healthy diet.

How to Boost Glutathione Levels

There are several ways to boost Glutathione levels in your body. One way to ensure you have enough Glutathione in your body is by eating foods rich in amino acids that support glutathione production. Amino acids are what your body uses to make glutathione in the liver. Vegetables that are rich in amino acids and that support glutathione production include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, tomatoes, garlic and onions. Fruits rich in amino acids include grapefruit, bananas and melons. You should try to eat these fruits and vegetables raw when possible to maximize the benefits for glutathione production. Whey protein is one of the richest sources of amino acids that are needed to create glutathione. It is best to select whey made from organically produced, non-pasteurized milk. Exercise has been found to boost glutathione levels in the body. If you are not exercising regularly, beginning an exercise routine will boost your glutathione level and bring a host of other health benefits as well. Both aerobic exercise such as jogging and anaerobic exercise such as weight lifting will increase the levels of glutathione in your body and keep you healthy and strong. A healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and regular exercise will go a long way to boosting the levels of glutathione in your body.

Some of the reference sources used for this article include:
http://www.immunehealthscience.com/
http://mthfrliving.com/health-conditions/glutathione/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/glutathione
http://www.medicinenet.com/
http://experiencelife.com/article/glutathione-the-great-protector