Glutathione…. What it is, and why you NEED IT!

Glutathione is an antioxidant . An antioxidant is a chemical that reverses cell damage. There is more to it than that, but suffice it to say that this molecule repairs and regenerates the DNA at the cellular level.

Some call Glutathione the master antioxidant.  It is also known as an intracellular antioxidant. This means that the molecule gets into the cell and protects it and repairs it against free radicals. What is a free radical?  Think back to your high school biology: Covalent and ionic bonds.   When the molecules change composition, the leftovers are ‘free’ and they do damage within the cellular structure.

Glutathione comes to the rescue, sort of like pac-man, and destroys or neutralizes the free radicals before they can do harm to your body. Your body makes it, but if you are 45 or older, you have far less than you need. If you have a chronic disease, then you have even less.

So where do I get glutathione? Some foods have it: Chicken, chickpeas and lentils combined with eggs, garlic, onions, broccoli and cauliflower will give you the necessary ingredients for your body to make Glutathione. Nuts, fresh fruits, some vegetables, and poultry or fish also provide Glutathione. These days you can also purchase good, bio-available glutathione from a good naturopath.

Besides free radical rescue, glutathione also helps with many diseases:

Cystic fibrosis,

cardiovascular disease

Liver disease

Autoimmune disease

Lung disease

Neuro-degenerative disorders, and

Aging.

If that were not enough, glutathione also helps the body detox from heavy metals and chemicals in the body. Research has found that glutathione helps to remove environmental toxins known as xenobiotics. (Health Revelations, February 2015)

We have heard many reports of healings and improvements with the addition of Glutathione to the diet. With this many benefits with supplementation, what are you waiting for?

Until next time,

Dr. Polly