When it starts, it’s a shock because, for some reason, I thought I’d look 20 forever. Nevertheless, aging is a privilege because we become wiser and more confident. Yet, what if there was a way to get older while still having the ethereal glow of the younger you?
What is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of 3 amino acids and is as abundant in your cells as glucose and potassium. Yet, it’s rarely talked about.
Glutathione is a free-radical fighter that wears many hats. Glutathione
metabolizes nutrients
assists with gene expression
is part of DNA and protein synthesis
fosters cell growth
stimulates cell apoptosis (planned cell death, like a cellular “housecleaning”)
produces cytokines (cells that assist with inflammatory and immune responses)
Glutathione protects your body by filtering out free radicals and combating oxidative stress in your cells, including toxins like mercury.
The mitochondria, or powerhouse of all cellular energy, is also protected by this detoxifying molecule. Glutathione in the mitochondria works to repair oxidative damage. Several pathologies are related to lowered mitochondrial glutathione, including hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in body tissues), aging, liver diseases, and neurologic disorders.
Most glutathione is produced in your liver. This makes sense since the liver filters out most medications and toxins.
Sources of Glutathione in Food and Supplementation
Regulate cell and organ stress with glutathione. Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses the importance of sulfur in glutathione production on the Huberman Lab Podcast. She is a leading educator on brain health, aging, and nutrition.
Antioxidant Effects of Sulfur
The super-antioxidant effects of glutathione are found in broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Glutathione has even been linked to a lowered risk of cancer. Eat foods with sulfur to get the most out of its free-radical fighting superpower, including anti-aging and detoxifying effects. Other sulfurous foods include beef, poultry, and fish.
Think Green
Other good food sources for glutathione include avocado, okra, asparagus, and spinach. Think green!
Get Spicy
Try turmeric extract! Curcumin, the main component of turmeric, was shown to increase glutathione or GSH. In addition, curcumin combines with GSH to produce an ultra-antioxidant effect. However, be sure you are using turmeric extract to get the full benefits.
Methionine and Cysteine
Foods with methionine and cysteine help produce glutathione. That's because they are sulfur-containing amino acids.
Snack on brazil nuts. The selenium in brazil nuts is a cofactor for glutathione, which may help naturally boost your levels. For example, one study showed selenium increased glutathione levels in hemodialysis patients.
When trying to add foods with glutathione, foods with a lot of sulfur are your best bet.
5 Benefits of Glutathione
1. Detoxify
Known as the ”master antioxidant,” glutathione was born to detoxify and destroy free radicals.
Glutathione is involved in cellular metabolism and exists in every cell in the human body. It also attacks reactive oxygen species, which do notorious wear and tear on your cells.
Detoxify and purify with glutathione.
2. Shiny Teeth
As someone prone to gum inflammation, I was thrilled to learn that eating more broccoli could help my oral hygiene.
Impress your dentist by eating more foods and supplementing with glutathione. One study demonstrated that people with severe gum inflammation (periodontitis) had lower glutathione concentrations. Glutathione can expedite wound healing by reducing oxidative stress on your tissues.
3. Protect Cells & Do Damage Control
Our cells get damaged all the time. Whether clumsily knocking into the corner of a table or losing sleep over a stressful situation, life causes our cells to get inflamed. Thankfully, glutathione is an excellent cell protectant. It may rescue your cells from toxins and injury.
Because it likes to hang out in the liver, glutathione primarily protects your liver cells, or hepatocytes, and red blood cells, or erythrocytes.
The liver acts as the body’s purifier. For example, it converts toxic ammonia into urea, which is excreted in the urine. Additionally, all blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, allowing glutathione to work its purifying magic. The liver also breaks down drugs and nutrients into more usable forms.
One study suggests that glutathione is linked to better outcomes for COVID-19 patients. While more research is needed, this is a promising finding, considering COVID-19’s devastating acute and long-term effects on organ systems. Because glutathione reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, it may be a viable adjunctive therapy to current COVID-19 treatment modalities.
4. Anti-Aging
Can you “reverse”-age with glutathione? One 2015 study demonstrated the way glutathione protects against oxidative stress. In the study, a lower GSH (glutathione) level was linked to Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder. Another 2017 study showed how IV glutathione improved Parkinson’s patients' symptoms and quality of life.
A glutathione deficiency can contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, HIV, AIDS, and stroke. This is due to increased oxidative stress, which accelerates aging.
The good news is healthy glutathione levels may decrease the likelihood of getting cancer. The research found that eating more cruciferous veggies was linked with a lowered cancer risk.
5. Glowing Skin
Probably the most noticeable part of aging is its effects on your skin. Whether skin is scarred or sagging, the antioxidant effects of glutathione can help heal and tighten loose skin.
A study showed a significant reduction in wrinkles when participants received glutathione supplementation. In addition, skin elasticity improved, even on sun-exposed skin parts. And we all know how much damage the sun does to skin.
Facials that can revive your glow.
These include:
HydraFacial. Restore your youthful glow and reduce skin discoloration.
Circadia Oxygen Facial eliminates bacteria for healthier skin. The Circadia Oxygen Facial also reduces redness and promotes your skin’s regenerative glow. Remove dead skin and feel renewed with an antioxidant peptide serum.