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Glutathione is one of the major antioxidants produced by our cells. It is known as the “master antioxidant” and is among the most powerful endogenous antioxidants produced in the human body. Among its many roles, it’s responsible for maintaining the levels of dietary antioxidants like Vitamin C and E. It is also required for the proper functioning of the many detoxification processes performed by our liver. Glutathione is synthesized from the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. This is one of the main reasons why moderate amounts of bio-available protein are required for proper cellular detoxification.
There are several reliable ways to try to increase low glutathione levels. Taking precursors such as N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) can help to boost the natural production of this antioxidant. Some holistic healthcare practitioners also offer more complicated procedures for trying to get the reduced form of glutathione directly into the body. These include inhalation and intravenous treatment.
Oral supplementation with glutathione is also an option but the problem is that this antioxidant is not effectively absorbed when taken directly because it gets broken down by the digestive system. The Bulletproof Executive distributes a sub-lingual glutathione that is meant to be more absorbable than competing products, and may prove to be a cost-effective solution to inhaled or IV glutathione treatment.
3 Ways to Boost Glutathione Naturally
1. Eat more cruciferous vegetables: A few ways to boost glutathione naturally at home is by increasing your consumption of sulfur-rich cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and brussels sprouts which have been documented to up-regulate this important antioxidant (1). The compound curcumin found in turmeric has also been shown to increase levels of glutathione (2). Another factor to keep in mind is that regular exercise can help with the production of glutathione however excess exercise can actually deplete it. Make sure that you exercise to your personal limit and not over it.
2. De-stress: Another issue to keep in mind is stress, which has been shown to deplete glutathione in humans (3). It’s also known to up-regulate inflammation in the body and deplete us in many ways. It cannot be repeated enough that managing stress levels should be one of our top priorities when it comes to our health.
3. Include more plant protein: Eating healthy sources of protein containing foods can help with the production of glutathione, and this is especially important when our bodies are undergoing any kind of detox. Superfood powders like Chlorella and Spirulina that contain the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine make a great addition to any juice or water fast and help to retain muscle mass during times of limited calorie consumption.
Sources:
1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7902618
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15650394
3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15936251
Madeleine Brown
