Glutathione

L-Glutathione: Liver’s Master Antioxidant

I want to spotlight a molecule that personally made a big impact on my health.  It was years ago while I was still in chiropractic school that I had my first micronutrient panel.  One of the nutrients I was deficient in, you guessed it, was glutathione.  After learning my body was depleted of this, I had to dive in more regarding what this glutathione is and what it does!  While doing my research on this, I was shocked with how important it truly is!

Glutathione is present in EVERY cell of the body, with the highest concentration in the liver and it’s often called the “master antioxidant.”

Let’s talk about antioxidants and free radicals quickly.  Free radicals come from various sources that we are exposed to everyday such as: airborne emissions, sunlight, chlorination, chemicals, pollutants, etc. and even from your NORMAL metabolism.  To sum things up, excessive amounts of free radicals can cause oxidative stress and damage the cells in your body.  Antioxidants job are to neutralize these free radicals thus preventing them from causing damage.  Therefore, antioxidants are known for their “anti-aging” property.

Glutathione is also very important for our immune system.  When glutathione levels are low, so is our immunity.  Glutathione stores are used up quickly when we are ill or battling disease which is why it’s important to boost your levels when your health is compromised to help the body’s ability to fight off infection and illness.

Liver detoxification is supported with the help of glutathione thus why it has the highest concentrations in the liver.  Glutathione will bind to the toxins in your body with an enzyme to help remove them from your body.

Dr. Mark Hyman calls glutathione the “mother of all antioxidants” and says that he has found glutathione deficiency to be common in virtually all the seriously ill patients he has treated.  These include people with 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!

Research has shown that raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance, and shift metabolism from fat production to muscle development.

The body forms glutathione naturally however production decreases as we age.  Also, as we are exposed to more and more toxins – glutathione levels are going to decrease.  If you are sick, feeling old, or just not feeling at your optimal health, you likely have glutathione deficiency.

The best form of delivery is through Glutathione IV however this is not feasible for all due to price and time.  The next best option is liposomal glutathione.  Please please don’t just buy any old glutathione off the shelf without doing your research.  Most supplements won’t get past the gut without being destroyed by your stomach acid.  This is why I currently only trust two different glutathione supplements which we carry in the office and I take every day.  It is a liquid glutathione that, in my opinion, tastes great.

I could talk about glutathione for days because it has become one of my personal favorite supplements.  I am very sensitive to chemical smells (such as perfumes, candles, air fresheners, etc.) and it has greatly reduced my severity.  For instance, I can now walk past Bath and Body Works without getting an immediate headache!  That’s a win!

If you have any questions or would like to have a micronutrient panel done to see your levels of glutathione as well as other nutrients, please don’t hesitate to ask.

In good health,

Dr. Stephanie