Anti-Aging Glutathione

The use of supplemental glutathione for anti-aging has sparked controversy in the medical community, with some researchers calling it a powerful health restorative and others saying there's just not enough evidence to justify those claims.

Glutathione (also sometimes known as GHS) is a natural compound. It is found in some foods, including many fruits, vegetables, and meats, and it can also be synthesized within the body, from three amino acids (L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycin).

Glutathione is known to be a powerful antioxidant
, effective at protecting cells from free radicals (unstable molecules formed during the process of cellular oxidation). It's active in human lungs and in many other organ systems and tissues, and plays an active role in maintaining the immune system.

Though glutathione was first isolated eighty years ago, it's metabolism within the body has only been understood since 1984. Studies and clinical trials of glutathione in the treatment of cancer, ALS, cystic fribrosis, and asthma are currently taking place, but though studies on its potential health benefits are ongoing, a relatively limited body of research is currently available.

Antioxidant = Anti-Aging?
Glutathione's potent antioxidant properties give it what appears to be enormous potential as an anti-aging supplement, because many of the health problems associated with free radical damage. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, preventing and even repairing the damage they do.

Preliminary research has shown a correlation between high glutathione levels and good health in older adults
, but while initial results seem promising most studies on the substance have been small and limited.

Questions About Best Method of Supplementation
One of the primary questions about glutathione is whether oral supplements are effective. Some studies have indicated that giving patients oral supplements of as much as 3000 IU resulted in no increase in blood levels of glutathione, while other research showed that taking other nutritional compounds did effectively raise blood levels of glutathione. In one trial, supplementation of vitamin C raised glutathione blood levels by almost 50%. The study concluded that vitamin C raises glutathione levels by helping the body produce it.

But though questions persist about the extent to which oral glutathione can be absorbed, small studies using other methods of supplementation have produced exciting results. Glutathione administered intravenously or intramuscularly has been found useful for preventing clot formation during operations, treating Parkinson's disease, reducing high blood pressure in diabetics, and increasing the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs.

Source: EasyArticles | RAB

How Can Glutathione Help With Immunity, Detoxification Or Even Cancer

It's a known fact, everyone wants to live a longer and happier life. And really, all that is required to achieve this is to have a healthy mind and a healthy body. A healthy body is one which is full of energy, good immunity and a great detoxification system. I'm sure you agree, you need to have all the three for the best results. However something that you may not know is one nutrient specifically plays an important role in providing all three of these, and it is known as 'Glutathione'. Your body itself synthesizes this vital nutrient and all you have to do is to support your body ability to produce glutathione in adequate amounts.

Glutathione - the anti-oxidant and free radicals

Our body undergoes wear and tear continuously. It is exposed to so many harmful things. It is exposed to stress, pollution, radiation, infection, drugs, poor diet, aging, injury, trauma etc. All these pile up a dangerous group of chemicals called free radicals. These get accumulated in the cells. These free radicals meddle with the normal functioning of the cells.

Free radicals need to be removed if your bodies cells are to function normally. This is where anti-oxidants play a major role. They neutralize these free radicals and prevent them from causing further damage to the cells. Glutathione is the super anti-oxidant that is present inside the cell itself. It is present in all cells and efficiently nullifies the effects of free radicals. The incredible thing is that Glutathione is produced naturally in our body. However as we age we produce less and less, eventually allowing free radicals to run freely in our body. Creating disease and other problems we call, "the signs of aging"

Glutathione and immunity

A weak immune system is helpless in preventing various infections. If your immune system is low, for example if you have an HIV infection, even bacteria that are very mild without causing any disease can enter your body producing various symptoms. The vital molecule glutathione is present in all cells including the cells of the immune system. They readily ward off any kind of infection. You have to keep the optimum level of glutathione inside the cells. All you really have to do is keep a diet rich in glutathione and help your body to create more of it.

Glutathione and detoxification

There is a wonderful organ in our body - the liver. It synthesizes protein, stores energy and removes the toxic substances from the body. Whatever is considered a foreign substance and deemed toxic, are removed from the body by the liver. With the help of a few chemical substances and a few chemical reactions involving them, the liver neutralizes these toxic substances by a process called detoxification.

Detoxification occurs in two phases - phase I and phase II reactions. A number of chemical substances are involved in this. And the most important one is the glutathione. Though glutathione is available in many natural food substances like fresh fruits and vegetables, the liver can synthesize glutathione on its own when necessity arises.

Glutathione and cancer

With improved standard of living and better medical facilities, the diseases caused by infections have decreased. But there is an increase in the incidence of many non-infectious diseases including cancer. Research has shown that people who suffer from cancer have low levels of glutathione in their body. By keeping the glutathione at normal levels, cancer can either be prevented or its progression can be stopped.

Source: ArticleCube | Michael Van Masters

Glutathione The Untold Story

Most people know about antioxidants and their role as free radical scavengers. Most people know that examples of antioxidants include Vitamin A, C, E and the mineral selenium. Most people also know that antioxidants neutralize tissue damaging free radicals and remove them from the body.

This is where the story becomes more interesting. Like a good mystery there appears to be another character central to the theme. This character is yet to have a face or even a name, but is somehow key to how this story excitedly unfolds. Glutathione.

Glutathione is the master antioxidant of the body. It is produced in every cell of your body and is key to cellular detoxification. Glutathione is also key to energy production at the mitochondria level helping to convert metabolic processes into stored energy called ATP. These two functions both help optimize cellular function.

The story however takes a bit of a tragic turn. Glutathione levels begin to fall at about the age of 20. There is typically a 1% decline every year as we age. The body’s natural mechanism to detoxify becomes progressively less effective. Cell function begins to depart from optimal. One could hypothesize that age related diseases might have something to do with this. I am reaching for the tissues!

As always knowing more about the story allows the different pieces to fall into place. Thankfully science and research have illuminated yet another central character for us to ponder as we reach for new perspectives to improve our health.

Source: SelfGrowth | Todd Peaceheart

Glutathione - What Is It? Five Things You Should Know

You hear more and more people talking about a funny sounding word nowadays. That word is glutathione. If you are saying: "Gluta - what?" Don't worry, not too long ago I was saying the same thing.Glutathione, pronounced "glue-ta-thigh-own" can be remembered by the guys by how they fasten their tie, or by the ladies by how that thigh just seems to be glued right on. Either way works. Funny word, but this little word gets down to serious business in your body.

Glutathione is a protein that is made up of three amino acids. The amino acids are cystine, glutamine, and glycine. Together, these three amino acids combine from the foods you eat and make glutathione in your cells.

What does glutathione do in your body? It has hundreds of positive roles, but if you can remember AN IDEA , you will remember most of what it does. Here are glutathione's main functions in your body:

1. ANtioxidant: Oxidative stress or oxidation is going on in your body all day long, whether you realize it or not. And research is now tying our biggest killers like heart disease, stroke, and cancer to oxidative stress. Glutathione combats oxidative stress in your body. So you absolutely need it to survive and be healthy. And if you didn't have it in your cells right now, you would be dead.

2. Immune System Optimizer: Research is now showing that glutathione actively boosts your immune system by raising T-cell production, and T-cells are crucial in fighting infection. This points to other positive roles in treating diseases where the patient has lowered or suppressed immunity. If a person has an autoimmune disorder, then glutathione re-balances their immune system. The best description for this process is immune system optimization.

3. Detoxification: We are surrounded by toxins at every turn, in our air, food, and water. Glutathione effectively detoxifies by binding to them and taking them out of the body. In this way it supports liver and kidney function as well.

4. Energy: The mitochondria are the powerhouses within your cells. They give you energy, and if they are damaged, you may suffer from a lack of energy, such as in chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. Glutathione has been studied and shown to actually repair damaged mitochondria on the cellular level. That means more energy for you!

5. Anti-Aging: Glutathione has also been shown in research to play a key role in the aging process. By reducing oxidative stress, its role as an antioxidant is tied in to the human aging process. More research is currently ongoing into glutathione's role in anti aging, and promising results are expected in future studies.

So now you have it -

Glutathione: Antioxidant, Immune System Optimizer, Detoxifier, Energy Restorer, and Anti-Aging Supplement. These are the five things you should know about what glutathione does.

What AN IDEA!

You absolutely cannot live without it. Glutathione is one of the most powerful words you can learn about today for great health!

Source: GoArticles | Laura McCallum