Glutathione has become very popular in recent years, but what exactly is it? It is mainly composed of three amino acids—glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid, and the most common form found in the market is reduced glutathione, also known as GSH. So, what exactly is reduced glutathione? Simply put, glutathione is a negatively charged molecule. When it enters our body, its negative electrons can neutralize oxygen free radicals, which are positively charged and lack electrons. Glutathione provides these necessary electrons, stabilizing the oxygen free radicals and slowing down the cellular aging process.
For example, just like iron rusts when it comes into contact with oxygen, our cells age due to oxygen free radicals. The role of glutathione is to provide the necessary electrons to these radicals, stabilizing them and thus delaying aging. Next, we will discuss why it is called reduced glutathione.
We have talked about glutathione providing electrons to oxygen free radicals, but that’s only part of its function. After distributing electrons, glutathione disappears, but when two glutathione molecules combine, they can form a complete molecule again. This is what we call reduced glutathione. Its “reducing” function lies in the fact that after two glutathione molecules that have used up their electrons combine, they can reform into a normal molecule.
Therefore, in our bodies, glutathione can perform this cycle hundreds of times. Some components we get from vegetables and fruits can also be converted into glutathione, but this conversion usually only happens once or twice. In contrast, reduced glutathione can be recycled hundreds of times, effectively neutralizing all oxygen free radicals.
So, where is glutathione most abundant in the body? In fact, every cell contains glutathione, but the organ with the highest concentration is the liver. The amount of glutathione in the liver is 7 to 10 times higher than in other organs like the skin and muscles.
Glutathione, as a natural detoxifier, plays a crucial role in our bodies. Imagine glutathione as a garbage truck touring our body, responsible for circulating and collecting “garbage”—various toxins—and safely transporting them to the liver. Under the liver’s processing, these toxins are eventually expelled from the body through the intestines or urine. This process is vital for keeping our bodies clean and healthy.
However, as we age, our body’s ability to produce glutathione naturally declines. This is because the liver, the main organ responsible for producing glutathione, gradually weakens in function with age. This means that as we grow older, the number of “garbage trucks” in our body decreases. When these trucks are insufficient, toxins may accumulate in certain organs and fail to be effectively expelled, potentially leading to various health issues.
Next, I will detail the other important functions of glutathione.
First, glutathione can effectively enhance our immunity. It plays an important role in the body, able to regenerate antioxidants like vitamins C and E. We all know that antioxidants are crucial for fighting free radicals. However, once these antioxidants are depleted, they turn into oxygen free radicals. These radicals are unstable molecules that can damage our cells and tissues. This is where glutathione plays a key role by providing electrons to these radicals, stabilizing them, and thereby reducing their harm to the body.
Furthermore, glutathione also has a unique ability; it can find and process heavy metals and other toxins in the body, in addition to providing electrons. If glutathione detects foreign substances, such as mercury, arsenic, or viruses, it will bind with these toxins and heavy metals and transport them to the liver, where they are expelled from the body through the intestines. Glutathione also plays a significant role in clearing liver fat and neutralizing oxygen free radicals. More importantly, glutathione has shown remarkable effects in preventing cancer and repairing liver cells. For certain diseases, such as psoriasis, fatty liver, and elevated liver enzymes, supplementing with glutathione is also considered beneficial.
Today, I want to share a real-life example, a story about a patient from Hong Kong. This patient not only had hepatitis B but also diabetes and had to frequently visit the hospital for blood tests. Once, the hospital informed him that his liver enzyme levels were alarmingly high, reaching 700! The doctors said he must be hospitalized immediately for treatment. During his stay, several medications were used to treat his hepatitis B and high liver enzymes, but guess what? His liver enzyme levels actually rose from 700 to 1100. Feeling that the treatment was ineffective, he decided to discharge himself from the hospital. Of course, the doctors disagreed, fearing he could suffer liver failure at any moment. But eventually, after a slight decrease in his liver enzyme levels, he was allowed to leave the hospital. This incident tells us that sometimes, even after treatment, the situation might not fundamentally improve.
The patient’s thought process was simple: since the hospital’s treatment plan did not yield the expected results, he could consider other methods. So, he tried using glutathione, a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier. He took 750 mg of glutathione daily. After about two weeks, when he went for another blood test, his liver enzyme levels dropped from 1100 to 150, almost back to normal. This rapid improvement demonstrated the potential of glutathione in dealing with liver issues.
Moreover, glutathione offers other significant health benefits. It can improve insulin sensitivity, which is particularly important for people with insulin resistance. After cleansing the liver, as the liver is the primary organ for insulin, people’s sensitivity to insulin can increase, potentially reducing their dependence on diabetes medications. Glutathione also has a positive impact on vascular diseases and may also be helpful for individuals with autism and Parkinson’s disease. This is mainly due to its detoxifying function, especially in eliminating heavy metals from the brain and other organs. This is crucial for diseases like autism and Parkinson’s, as sometimes these diseases are related to the accumulation of heavy metals in the brain.
Glutathione is also helpful for those suffering from autoimmune disorders and even for women seeking skin whitening and spot removal, as it promotes skin health. Additionally, it is beneficial for brain and heart health, as it can neutralize oxygen free radicals in these organs, effectively combating aging. In fact, glutathione ranks very high among antioxidant products. Therefore, if you have liver issues, insulin resistance, or want to improve your antioxidant capabilities, glutathione might be a choice worth considering. Its various benefits demonstrate its potential in maintaining health and preventing diseases.
To enhance the absorption of glutathione, we can adopt some simple methods:
Eat foods containing cysteine: Cysteine is one of the components of glutathione, so eating foods rich in cysteine, like chicken, fish, beans, and dairy products, can help our body produce more glutathione.
Consider taking glutathione supplements, and friends who need it can browse through my blog, where I will provide relevant product links at the bottom of the blog post.
Avoid smoking and reduce alcohol consumption: Smoking and drinking can lower the levels of glutathione in our bodies, so it’s best to avoid these unhealthy habits.
Eat foods containing precursors of glutathione: Nutrients like sulfur, vitamin C, and vitamin E can help our body produce glutathione, so ensuring our diet is rich in these nutrients can help increase glutathione levels.
Consider some natural foods or herbs: Certain foods and herbs, such as onions, garlic, milk thistle, and licorice, are thought to help our body produce more glutathione. So, consider incorporating them into our diet.
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