The Problem with Glutathione Supplements
There are a lot of health conscious people who spend time and money researching and buying antioxidant supplements for the simple reason that they want the benefits that antioxidants can provide for their health. And there is no question that there are many, many benefits. The problem is that there are some antioxidants that cannot be taken as an oral supplement and one of them is probably the most important antioxidant of all – glutathione.
So, Why Do You Care About Glutathione?
Glutathione is an antioxidant that is manufactured in your body. Technically, it’s a tri-peptide of the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamine or glutamic acid and found in every cell of our body, which means it’s immediately available where it will be needed – one of glutathiones many special attributes. But Glutathione is really much more than that.
Glutathione is ready known as the Master Antioxidant and it supports the immune system, plays an important role repairing DNA and in addition to its well documented anti-inflammatory properties, helps to support the liver and detoxify the contaminants from air and water pollution from our bodies. Without the presence of Glutathione, better known but less powerful antioxidants like Vitamins C and E would not work as effectively.
Studies have shown that many of the preventable- degenerative diseases of aging, like degenerative joint disease, Osteoporosis, several types of dementia, high blood pressure and type II diabetes are associated with a decrease of glutathione. Increasing our glutathione levels is a great strategy for improving our health.
As we leave our twenties (and really start to need it!) our body slows down its production of Glutathione, which is why many well intentioned and health conscious people are looking for information on glutathione supplements. But a supplement is not the way to go.
Swallowing glutathione leaves it at the mercy of our intestinal tract and when it comes to glutathione, it seems our digestive system has no mercy. It’s destroyed before it can be taken into our bloodstream. So, that pill or two you swallowed probably did you no good at all.
But there are effective choices available if you want to raise your level of glutathione and one of them is through your diet. 4-5 servings a day of the right vegetables and fruits like broccoli, asparagus, spinach and avocado will help provide your body with more of what it needs to make its own glutathione. Other natural sources of the right nutrients to help boost your Glutathione production include Milk Thistle, whey Protein, Selenium and Turmeric.
The second option available would be to supplement with glutathione precursors, which are products that contain the nutrients your body requires in order to boost its own natural production to help compensate for the slow down caused by aging.
Anna Ruth consults with Whole Earth Health and is one of the company’s champions for MAXGXL the glutathione precursor. This natural antioxidant has helped people by acting as an anti fatigue supplement and has helped to provide pain relief in many different situations.