Acetyl-L-Carnitine, The Next Anti-Aging Brain Nutrient

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is an amino acid derivative instrumental in the biochemical synthesis of acetycholine, an important neurotransmitter without which you would be unable to learn or to memorize anything. However, it has another property: it may be able to provide sufficient nutrition to the brain as to allow it to withstand the ravages of time and aging.

Since time immemorial mankind has sought the elixir of life that can be used to give humans everlasting life. While this has yet to be found there is increasing evidence that research is slowly but steadily identifying the factors that cause aging, and identifying means of overcoming them. Acetyl-L-carnatine is one of those amino acid supplements that is essential to life, and that when combined with other supplements can produce a synergistic effect that shows signs of combating at least some of the oxidative changes in the body that cause aging.

Anti-oxidants such as Vitamins C and E have long been used in attempts to fight against the oxidative effects of free radicals on the body; free radicals that once were the by products of our metabolism and easily combated, but which are now being increasingly generated in our environment through pollution, radiation, excessive exposure to sunlight and cigarette smoke. All of these contribute to aging through the disruption and destruction of body cells by these free radicals.

Acetylcholine is well known to biochemical historians, being one of the first neurotransmitters discovered, and its importance in maintaining the proper operation of the brain is indisputable. It is an essential part of the process that allows brain cells to communicate and to create memory. Not only that, but also to recall memories and to tell muscles when they should and should not contract. As people age their brain cells become less efficient, this mainly being due to a decline in the acetyl-L-carnitine that produces actylcholine in the body with the aid of the enzyme choline acetyl transferase.

To express it simply, acetyl-l-carnitine enables neurons to maintain communication when the levels of enzymes and other necessary chemicals are falling throughout the body due to the slowing of the body with age. If we cannot produce it ourselves, then we can either supply it directly though a supplement, or supply its precursor so that the body has the raw materials to produce it.

Most biochemistry is active throughout our lives: we simply need to provide the raw materials for the necessary reactions to take place. We can do that through supplements. It has been established that a supplement of acetyl-L-carnitine slows the natural mental decline that begins to occur in middle age and to improved memory and concentration. It is extremely useful that it is easily soluble in both water and fats, so that it can be carried to any part of the body that requires an antioxidant effect.

Studies have also indicated that supplemental acetyl-L-carnitine can promote improved energy generation through its effect on fatty acids. This support of the metabolism of fatty acids is indicated by its effect on ‘liver spots’, which are a recognized sign of aging. These brown spots can be seen on the skin as people age, but the lipofuscin that causes it also affects the internal organs and the brain, and can also appear on the lens of the eye. Lipofuscin is composed of waste products such as damaged proteins and oxidized fats and other lipids. Its production can be held back by antioxidants, and are reduced by supplemental acetyl-L-carnitine.

This is yet another incidence of how ALC can be used to slow done or even reverse, the effects of aging on the human metabolism and brain functions. Animal studies have indicated that this effect is significantly greater when it is used in conjunction with lipoic acid.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant, occurring naturally in beef, kidney, and green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. It is also a coenzyme, working with with other metabolic enzymes to produce energy. Moreover, ALA raises the levels of a substance called glutathione which is critical for the proper functioning of the neurons. However, it is their effect on mitichondria that makes a combination of ALA and ALC so interesting in human biology.

Mitochondria are responsible for the generation of power in all cells in the human body through the biosynthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) responsible for all metabolic functions and cell generation. Without mitochondria, oxygen cannot be used. ATP is the substance that is responsible for carrying chemical energy in the body. During aging, mitochondria are damaged by oxidation through free radicals. This induced a general decline in energy and cognitive functions.

However it was found in a study with rats that when acetyl-L-carnitine was provided as a supplement, the age-related decline in mitochondrial activity was reversed and oxidation of fatty acids was increased. As a result of this fatty acid oxidation, even more oxidation damage to the mitochondria occurred. When a supplement of alpha lipoic acid was also given, however, the mitochondrial oxidation was reduced, so that the mitochondria produced a higher energy output with less oxidation damage.

In fact the two worked synergistically, the benefit of acetyl-L-Carnitine and alpha lipoic acid used together being more effective than when given separately. It is possibly the discovery of more such synergistic effects that will eventually lead to longer life spans!

After a period of time, the old rats took on the energy of much younger rats, and the aging process appeared to have reversed. Tests are now under way on humans, and while the doses needed are large, initial results of a 2001 study at San Francisco State University have indicated a reduction in the oxidative stress induced by exercise of a test group in comparison with a placebo control group.

This type of stress as in indication of damage caused by energy output, and relates to aging. It appears, therefore, that a supplement consisting of both l-Carnitine and ALA is more effective that either alone in improving the degeneration of energy levels as well the decline in cognitive and memory functions that comes with age. It is not yet, however, the elixir of life!




By FreeArticlesForWebSites

Benefits Of Glutathione Therapy

Although one of the primary benefits of Glutathione has to do with Parkinson’s disease, it has been found that when a person has a Glutathione deficiency, other health issues can arise. Since Glutathione is one of the primary antioxidant enzymes, a protein made naturally in the body to help protect cells, if this is low or non-existence, trouble is imminent.

For maintaining overall good health, liquid Glutathione is needed. In fact, when it comes to the body’s cells being able to fight off damage caused by free radicals, this one protein type is the most important. Comprised of three amino acid types, Glutathione can be found in every single cell. For this protein to work as it should, it has to be generated within the cell.

In addition to being found in the body, Glutathione also comes from a person’s diet. Although not considered an essential nutrient, it is still vital. After all Glutathione can be created from L-cystein, L-glutamate, and glycine amino acids. When at the appropriate levels, the benefits of Glutathione are incredible, keeping a person’s immune system working at normal function.

Another of the many benefits of Glutathione is that it aids in the multiplication of lymphocytes. Experts now conclude that there are actually three main benefits of Glutathione specific to the immune response system. First, it works as an antioxidant, second, a booster for the overall immune system and its response, and finally, a detoxifier. To ensure the body can maintain a high level of function for the immune system, Glutathione plays a critical part.

Other important benefits of Glutathione or having a Glutathione deficiency includes protection the body’s health, improving endurance in people living with AIDS, reducing high levels of oxidized Vitamins C and E, maintaining the cellular structure, protecting red blood cells, and even keeping brain function at a normal level. As more and more studies are being performed on Glutathione deficiency, researchers are amazed at the list of benefits of Glutathione that they find.

What happens in the body is that sometime during your twenties and thirties, the level of Glutathione starts to diminish, usually as much as 10% every ten years. As we get older, we begin to feel tired, achy, etc. With the research that has been done regarding both Glutathione deficiency and the benefits of Glutathione, they have found that Glutathione given intravenously, not orally, can make a significant difference in the way a person feels but also the way in which the body fights off illness and disease.

If you decide to take the liquid Glutathione, we suggest you start with the 100 milligram option, gradually increasing to 500. However, there are even supplements that come in 1800 milligrams but in this case you should talk to your doctor prior to taking that high of a dose. The liquid Glutathione or Glutathione injection coupled with a well-balanced diet, daily exercise, and a stress-free life can have a powerful and positive impact on life.




By FreeArticlesForWebSites

L-Glutathione Can Eliminate Toxins in the Liver

L-glutathione is the reduced form of glutathione, and is a tripeptide synthesized in the animal and plant tissues from glycine, cysteine and glutamate. Commonly known as GSH, it contains thiol groups that are maintained in a reduced state, and is a very powerful antioxidant, considered to be the key antioxidant and protective substance in the body.

Glutathione can reduce any disulfide groups in the cytoplasm within the body of the cell, and ensures that the cytoplasm is a strongly reducing medium protecting against oxidation. It has a synergistic effect with other antioxidants to protect the body against free radicals and oxidizing agents that cause so much damage to the body through what is commonly referred to as ‘oxidative stress’. However, there is more to it than that and it attaches itself to toxic chemicals and drugs in the liver and renders them into a state suitable for elimination from the body.

These toxic materials include poisonous pesticides, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and chromium and many other substances that we come into contact with due to present day pollution of our atmosphere and foodstuffs. Glutathione can also help protect the body from the effects of chemotherapy and evidence is suggesting possible links with the control of some cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis and many other degenerative conditions caused by free radical attack and the effects of pollutants.

The way that GSH acts in the cells is that the redox state of the glutathione-glutathione disulfide couple is critical to the health of the intercellular and intracellular fluid. GSH in the reduced state of glutathione reacts with an oxidative agent such as hydrogen peroxide to form the oxidized form, glutathione disulfide and water. It hence mops up oxidizers such as peroxides and free radicals within the cytoplasm of the body’s cells, and also in between the cells. The disulfide is then converted back to GSH by the combined action of the enzyme glutathione reductase and NADPH (the reducing agent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).

The cycle then repeats so that two molecules of glutathione continue to reduce damaging oxidizing agents without themselves being consumed. In so doing, the NADPH becomes oxidized. A continuous supply of NADPH is needed to allow GSH to undergo these biochemical reactions, and up to 10% of our blood glucose is used by the pentose phosphate pathway by which NADPH is synthesized.

Since this cycle consumes no glutathione, it would appear that a supplement is unnecessary. However, this is not the case since the molecule takes part in other reactions in the body, particularly in the elimination of toxic heavy metals from the body. Mercury is highly reactive with the thiol that GSH is, and so will bind to form a stable Hg-sulfydryl bond in the liver. This mercury-glutathione chelate is unable to bind to other proteins or gain access to the body cells, and is eventually harmlessly secreted. The same is true of many other heavy metals that are reactive with thiol’s.

In this way the body is protected from the harmful effects of these heavy metals. However, it results in the loss of the glutathione, and the pollution of modern day living can take a heavy toll of the GSH content of our bodies. For this reason a glutathione supplement is recommended, especially for city dwellers that may be exposed to more heavy metals than those residing in rural areas.

However, the form in which this supplement is taken is very important, because the human digestive tract contains a significant amount of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. That is an enzyme which apparently destroys glutathione before it can be absorbed. However, it can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream by dissolving the pill between the teeth and inner cheek. It has also been suggestion that the supplement could be administered by injection.

Others have suggested that rather than administer a supplement, individuals could take other supplements that contain the materials needed to stimulate the formation of GSH. Substances such as vitamin C, selenium (important in GSH biochemistry), methionine, alpha-lipoic acid and glutamine could all help to increase the body’s production of glutathione. A supplement of the constituent parts of cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid should also help. The dosage ranges recommended vary widely from 50mg to 500mg daily, and the effects of supplementation are not yet well know.

Some specific conditions that this wonder antioxidant is useful in treating include liver disease such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and so on. Patients suffering from these diseases show a massive reduction in their GSH content and prior GSH treatment appeared to offer a significant degree of protection in controlled clinical investigations. Patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C have been found to be associated with reduced GSH levels, particularly if also HIV positive.

Similar deficiencies have been noted in some lung conditions such as asthma and other pulmonary conditions. In such cases it has been demonstrated that administration of GSH supplements sufficient to restore normal levels of the substance improved the patients’ conditions by a significant amount. Its effect on atherosclerosis appears to be significant since a decreased level of GSH peroxidase has been recorded in such patients in addition to an increase in lipid peroxides, indicating that oxidation of the arterial wall had been occurring.

Anti-viral therapies that rely on GSH biochemistry for their action have been found to be less effective in those with low GSH levels, and other studies have confirmed that supplementing with GSH improves the response to interferon treatment. These results indicate the activity of oxidizing agents and free radicals in liver conditions, and in fact this has been demonstrated by tests carried out in New York and Philadelphia in the 1990s.

This suggests that the liver is prone to damage by oxidative stress, and that GSH levels may be able to be used as an indication of potential liver disease. What is evident is that a strong case can be made for glutathione supplementation as protection against potential liver, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, especially by those exposed to specific polluting agents such as primary or secondary tobacco smoke, auto and diesel fumes and chemicals and pesticides.

L-glutathione is useful, not only for the elimination of toxins in the liver, but also in protecting this large and vital organ from the oxidative stress that modern living brings. L-Glutathione and its precursors are sold over the counter at your local or internet health food store.



By Robert Palmer

A Lycopene Supplement - Why a Multi-Vitamin is a Better Choice

If you go shopping for a lycopene supplement, one of the first things that you are likely to notice is the great variation in price. While some supplements are definitely worth more, some are simply over-priced for no good reason.

Here are a few facts that should help you get the most for your money.

Over the last several decades, many researchers have been focused on the health benefits of specific foods and the differences in people's blood contents of trace nutrients. While the essential vitamins, such as A, C, D and E, are well-known, there are many other trace nutrients in foodstuff that are still not well understood.

Lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and some other red vegetables, is one of them. There is basically one fact that accounts for the increase in popularity of supplements containing it. There is a relationship between high levels in the bloodstream and a lower incidence of prostate cancer.

Men that have prostate cancer typically have lower blood levels of the nutrient. Alternative and mainstream practitioners alike are now suggesting a lycopene supplement for their male patients.

There is a small amount of evidence indicating that the nutrient may be beneficial for the prevention of breast cancer, too. Other claims associated with supplementation include increased energy level and a reduced risk of heart disease, as well as a reduction of other age-related diseases.

Here's the problem. The nutrient is only one of many. The benefits associated with it are not unlike those associated with other antioxidants.

Antioxidants of all kinds address one of the causes of cellular aging. That cause is free radical damage. Free radicals or oxygen radical species, as they are sometimes referred to, are present in all of the cells of the body. If a person has a good antioxidant "status", the radicals are neutralized before they can damage the cells.

There is no reason to believe that a lycopene supplement is any better than any other antioxidant for preventing free radical damage. In fact, one of the most potent antioxidants is l-glutathione, which is not normally included in dietary supplements, because it is more expensive.

In order for it to be absorbed into the bloodstream, the reduced form must be used and it must be protected by an enteric coating. So, when it comes to price variations, supplements that include l-glutathione in the reduced form and an enteric coating are worth more.

According to some scientists, a lycopene supplement might not provide the benefits associated with eating tomatoes. The benefit could be due to all of the different vitamins that are in them, including the basic vitamin C.

Taking a good multi-nutritional supplement is worthwhile for many reasons. The best ones contain nutrients that address all of the causes of cellular aging. Free radical damage is only one of them.

So, instead of shopping for a single ingredient lycopene supplement, look for a good multi-nutritional supplement that contains it. That's how to really get the most for your money.

I have found lycopene as an ingredient in a well balanced multi-nutritional supplement that I personally take and highly recommend visit my website now http://www.radiant-health.info

Susan is passionate about maintaining good health by taking high quality supplements. She says the most valuable and effective supplements she has come across are not very expensive or the most advertised. Check out her website http://www.radiant-health.info today.




By Susan Taylor

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione (pronounced "gloota-thigh-own") also known as GSH is the body's essential health AID - Antioxidant, Immune booster and Detoxifier. This small protein, produced naturally in the body, maintains these three crucial protective functions. In fact, your life depends on glutathione. Without it your cells would disintegrate from unrestrained oxidation, your body would have little resistance to bacteria, viruses and cancer, and your liver would shrivel up from the eventual accumulation of toxins.

Glutathione is not yet a household word. Even doctors who have heard the term may have only a vague idea of it. However, everyone will soon be talking about this critical substance. There was a time when only scientists had heard of cholesterol and vitamins, but today everyone knows about them. In the last five years, over 35,000 medical articles about Glutathione have been published, and this scientific understanding is gradually becoming common knowledge.

Each and every cell in the body is responsible for its own supply of glutathione and must have the necessary raw materials to make it. Glutathione is always in great demand and is rapidly consumed when we experience any sort of pressure - illness, stress, fatigue and even exercise. Glutathione levels also diminish as we age and many diseases normally associated with aging have been linked to glutathione deficiency.

WHY GLUTATHIONE IS ESSENTIAL TO HEALTH

Glutathione's three major roles in the body are summarized by the letters A-I-D - Antioxidant, Immune booster, and Detoxifier - three critical processes driven by glutathione.

THE MASTER ANTIOXIDANT (AID) Over the past thirty years researchers have explored the critical role of antioxidants in good health. It's not surprising that the body itself manufactures its own natural antioxidants. The most important of these is glutathione. Since all other antioxidants depend upon the presence of glutathione to function properly, scientists call it "The Master Antioxidant."

BENEFITS FOR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM (AID) The immune system's function is to identify and attack germs and other invaders, including cancer cel1s. A body with plenty of glutathione fights off these threats more easily by denying most of them and confronting the few that get through with an enhanced immune system. Elevated glutathione levels enable the body to produce more white blood cells - the most important front line defense of the immune system. Glutathione plays a central role in the functions of these immune cel1s. Dr. Gustavo Bounous, a leading glutathione expert says, "The limiting factor in the proper activity of our lymphocytes (white blood cel1s) is the availability of glutathione." In other words, healthy growth and activity of immune cel1s depend upon glutathione's availability. Simply put, glutathione is food for the immune system.

NATURAL DETOXIFICATION (AID) Whether we know it or not, we are continually inhaling and ingesting natural and synthetic toxins. They are unavoidable in these modern times, both in our polluted cities and our engineered food supplies. When the body has its health and the nourishment it needs it works tirelessly to eliminate toxins and protect itself, but increasing levels of environmental pollution are depleting its stores of glutathione more and more rapidly. Our main organ of detoxification is the liver the body's most concentrated source of glutathione. Studies show that low glutathione levels lead to poor liver function, causing more and more toxins to circulate through the body and resulting in damage to individual cel1s and organs.

Raising glutathione levels: some possible clinical applications:

Aging
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cataract formation
• Macular degeneration
• Cancers of aging
• Prostate problems
• Osteoarthritis

Cardiovascular
• Prevents heart disease
• Prevents stroke
• Prevents atherosclerosis
• Reverses atherosclerosis
• Prevents reperfusion injury

Digestive system
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Hepatitis
• Malnutrition
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcer

Toxicology
• Detoxifies certain drug overdoses
• Detoxifies substances in cigarette smoke, auto exhaust
• Detoxifies pollutants including heavy metals, pesticides
• Prevents hearing loss from noise pollution
• Detoxifies many well-known carcinogens

Infectious disease and immunology
• Anti-viral (AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, common cold, etc)
• Bacterial infection
• Certain autoimmune dysfunction's
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Immuno-suppression

Cancer
• Cancer prevention
• Suppresses tumor growth
• Eliminates carcinogens, mutagens
• Retards oxidative damage to DNA
• Prevents wasting disease
• Eases side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Pulmonary
• Breaks up mucus
• Cystic fibrosis
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Pulmonary fibrosis

Metabolic
• Athletic enhancement
• Decreases recovery time from physical stress
• Decreases cholesterol LDL oxidation
• Supports hemoglobin in kidney failure
• Diabetes




By Abraham Bruck

Glutathione Health

Description

Glutathione is produced in the human liver and plays a key role in intermediary metabolism, immune response and health, though many of its mechanisms and much of its behavior await further medical understanding. It is also known as gamma-Glutamylcysteineglycine and GHS. It is a small protein composed of three amino acids, cysteine, glutamic acid and glyceine. Glutatione is found in two forms, a monomerthat is a single molecule of the protein, and a dimmer that is two of the single molecules joined together. The monomer is sometimes called reduced glutathione, while the dimmer is also called oxidized glutathione. The monomer is the active form of glutathione. Oxidized glutathione is broken down to the single molecule by an enzyme called glutathione reductase.

Glutathione, in purified extracted form, is a white powder that is soluble in water and in alcohol. It is found naturally in many fruits, vegetables, and meats. However, absorption rates of glutathione from food sources in the human gastrointestinal tract are low.

General use

Glutathione was first isolated in yeast in 1929. Its metabolism in the body was described in 1984, and its role in cancer treatment dates from 1984.

Glutathione is a major antioxidant highly active in human lungs and many other organ systems and tissues. It has many reported uses. It has a critical role in protecting cells from oxidative stress and maintaining the immune system. Higher blood levels of glutathione have been associated with better health in elderly people, but the exact association between glutathione and the aging process has not been determined.

Among the uses that have been reported for glutathione are:

* treatment of poisoning, particularly heavy metal poisons
* treatment of idiopathic pulmonary firbosis
* increasing the effectiveness and reducing the toxicity of cis-platinum, a chemo drug used to treat breast cancer
* treating Parkinson's disease
* lowering blood pressure in patients with diabetes
* increasing male sperm counts in humans and animals
* treatment of liver cancer
* treatment of sickle cell anemia

Claims made about glutathione have included that it will increase energy, improve concentration, slow aging, and protect the skin.

The importance of glutathione is generally recognized, although its specific functions and appropriate clinical use remain under study. Similarly, because ingested glutathione has little or no effect on intracellular glutathione levels, there are questions regarding the optimal method for raising the intracellular levels.

In addition to ongoing studies of the role of glutathione in cancer and cancer therapy, there are currently clinical trials of glutathione in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The U. S. National Cancer Institute has included glutathione in a study to determine whether nutritional factors could inhibit development of some types of cancer.

European researchers, with support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, are examining the potential uses of inhaled glutathione in cystic fibrosis. Some physicians also use inhaled glutathione in treating airway restriction and asthma. Other studies are investigating whether administration of alpha-lipoic acid, a material that can elevate intracellular glutathione, may be beneficial in restoring the immune system in AIDS patients.

Preparations

Although glutathione is marketed as a nutritional supplement, it does not appear that glutathione supplements actually increase the levels of glutathione inside cells. In human studies, oral doses of glutathione had little effect in raising blood levels. Further, glutathione is so widely distributed in common foods that supplements are not normally required. Supplements of vitamin C are more effective at increasing intracellular glutathione than taking oral glutathione supplements. Oral supplements of whey protein and of alpha-lipoic acid appear to help restore intracellular levels of glutathione.

Glutathione is available as capsules of 50, 100, and 250 milligrams. It is also included in many multivitamin and multi-nutrient formulations.

Precautions

At this time, the only established precautions are sensitivity to any of the inactive ingredients in the preparations of glutathione or the products used to stimulate glutathione levels. This is a discussion of glutathione, not C and whey. There is some new literature that suggests supplementing it may be helpful to some cancer patients, but detrimental to others.

Side effects

There are no established side effects to glutathione or to the substances used to elevate glutathione levels.

Training & certification

Glutathione has been classified as an orphan drug for treatment of AIDS. For this purpose, medical licensure is required. Glutathione has been given intravenously for amelioration of the side effects of cisplatin therapy. Specific training is required to order, prepare, start, and monitor intravenous therapy. No specific training is required to use glutathione or the compounds which have been reported to raise glutathione levels for other purposes.

Source: healthline.com

Glutathione: New Supplement on the Block

Who wouldn't like to get their hands on a naturally occurring substance that acts as an antioxidant, an immune system booster, and a detoxifier? Something that can help your body repair damage caused by stress, pollution, radiation, infection, drugs, poor diet, aging, injury, trauma, and burns?

A handful of researchers are saying the antioxidant glutathione can do all that and maybe more. But can you believe such sweeping claims? What's the evidence to back them up? Here are what three experts have to say:

What Is Glutathione?

"Glutathione is a very interesting, very small molecule that's [produced by the body and] found in every cell," says Gustavo Bounous, MD, director of research and development at Immunotec and a retired professor of surgery at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. "It's the [body's] most important antioxidant because it's within the cell."

Antioxidants -- the most well known of which are vitamins C and E -- are important for good health because they neutralize free radicals, which can build up in cells and cause damage. Because glutathione exists within the cells, it is in a prime position to neutralize free radicals. It also has potentially widespread health benefits because it can be found in all types of cells, including the cells of the immune system, whose job is to fight disease.

Glutathione occurs naturally in many foods, and people who eat well probably have enough in their diets, says Dean Jones, PhD, professor of biochemistry and director of nutritional health sciences at Emory University in Atlanta. Those with diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables and freshly prepared meats are most likely just fine. On the other hand, those with poor diets may get too little.

What Does Glutathione Do?

The strong antioxidant effect of glutathione helps keep cells running smoothly. Bounous and another glutathione expert, Jeremy Appleton, ND, say it also helps the liver remove chemicals that are foreign to the body, such as drugs and pollutants.

Appleton is chairman of the department of nutrition at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Ore., and senior science editor for Healthnotes, a database on complementary and alternative medicine available at newspaper stands and health food stores.

Evidence for the important role that glutathione plays in health comes from studies in people who are severely ill.

"If you look in a hospital situation at people who have cancer, AIDS, or other very serious disease, almost invariably they are depleted in glutathione," says Appleton. "The reasons for this are not completely understood, but we do know that glutathione is extremely important for maintaining intracellular health."

How Should Glutathione Be Taken?

Glutathione is probably not well absorbed into the body when taken by mouth. One way to get around that is to take it by vein. A more practical solution is to take the precursors -- that is, the molecules the body needs to make glutathione -- rather than glutathione itself. While there is no solid proof this works, the consensus among experts is that that doing so will increase the amount of glutathione in the cells.

Bounous has developed a glutathione-enhancing product called Immunocal, which is made up of glutathione precursors, mainly the amino acid cysteine.

Who Does Glutathione Help?

Animal and laboratory studies have demonstrated that glutathione has the potential to fight almost any disease, particularly those associated with aging, since free radical damage is the cause of many of the diseases of old age.

"Theoretically, there are many very strong arguments in favor of a therapeutic use of glutathione," says Appleton. "But when people have actually tried to use glutathione as an oral supplement, nasal spray, or intravenously, the results have been more of a preliminary nature. The amount of research on glutathione as a supplement ... is very limited."

Nevertheless, people have tried glutathione for the treatment of a whole host of conditions, including cancer, high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and male infertility.

The best studies have been conducted in cancer. One study involved women with ovarian cancer who were being treated with chemotherapy. Some of the women were also treated with intravenous glutathione. Those given the glutathione not only had fewer side effects from the chemotherapy but also had better overall survival rates.

Myriam Abalain of Montreal, Canada, is one of the many people who have taken Bounous's Immunocal to combat cancer. In 1996, at age 33, a routine PAP smear revealed she had precancerous cells on her cervix, which is one step away from having cervical cancer. The three specialists she visited all told her that a hysterectomy was her only option, but she hesitated to have such major, life-altering surgery.

Instead, she waited. For more than two years, her condition remained stable. Then a friend suggested she try Immunocal. After eight months of taking the supplement, her physician could no longer detect any precancerous cells. Does this mean Immunocal cured her? It's hard to say based on just one case like hers. It is possible her body went into remission naturally.

Even Bounous acknowledges there's no real proof his product cured her cancer, but he's working on conducting good clinical research, comparing individuals with cancer taking glutathione to those who are not.

What Are the Risks?

O

verall, taking glutathione or its precursors in reasonable amounts appears to be quite safe, although it should be avoided in people with milk protein allergies and in those who have received an organ transplant. There is also some concern, however, about the safety of taking glutathione for the one condition for which there is the greatest evidence of its usefulness: cancer.

"People don't get concerned about these health-promoting [supplements] until they're in their 50s and 60s," says Emory's Dean Jones. At that point, they may already have the initial precancerous [cells]. Therefore, the supplements, just like they promote health in normal tissues, might promote health in the precancerous tissue."

Appleton recognizes this possibility but says "there's no evidence that supplementing with glutathione, even intravenously, is in any way going to make any cancer worse. In fact, the evidence we have suggests the opposite. It suggests that glutathione and other antioxidants, far from interfering with the activity of chemotherapy, appear to reduce side effects without decreasing efficacy and may, in fact, improve the efficacy of the chemotherapy in fighting cancer."

Bounous says his research has demonstrated that taking Immunocal actually lowers glutathione in cancer cells while increasing it in normal cells. As a result, the cancer cells are more vulnerable to chemotherapy, and the normal cells are protected.

The upshot? The experts disagree on who should take glutathione or its precursors. Bounous says everyone should take it in order to optimize overall health. Appleton would reserve it for people with cancer. Jones says it might only prove beneficial for those who eat poorly and are thus unlikely to be getting much glutathione or its precursors in their diet.

They all acknowledge that people with severe diseases known to be associated with low glutathione levels, such as AIDS, may well benefit from the supplement, although there is no proof to this effect.

Source: medicinenet.com

The 3 Distinct Benefits of Naturally Produced Glutathione

In case you are still trying to understand the roles glutathione plays in the body, here’s a recap…

Glutathione is:
# The “Master Antioxidant”
# A Powerful Immune Booster
# A Cellular Level Detoxifier


Glutathione: The Master Antioxidant

Antioxidants participate directly in the destruction of reactive oxygen compounds called free radicals. These by-products of a cell’s normal function can’t be avoided, but exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or other sources promotes their emergence.

Free radicals have been linked to muscle fatigue during exercise and aging.

For this reason, the body is equipped with a variety of antioxidants. Vitamins C and E are natural antioxidants but do not occur naturally in the body.

These and other antioxidants actually depend on natural glutathione to function properly. This is why glutathione is called “The Master Antioxidant”.

Glutathione: Food for the Immune System

Glutathione helps build your immune system’s resistance and improve your chances of staying healthy.

Lymphocytes are cells of your immune system. Glutathione is essential for lymphocytes to increase in number, produce antibodies, and function efficiently.

Glutathione: A Cellular Level Detoxifier

Our food and water sources are becoming increasingly contaminated with chemicals, as is the air that we breathe.

Supplemental detoxifiers such as glutathione help to counter the effects of the toxins we inhale and ingest.

By physically binding to toxic compounds in cells, glutathione helps make them soluble - and harmless. The body can then eliminate these disarmed toxins in the bile and urine.

Raising Glutathione Levels Means HEALTH

Think for a minute on the cellular changes that would take place in your body if you were to…
# destroy the corrosive free radicals
# boost your immune system and
# cleanse your cells in a way that you have never done before.

What one supplement or diet can offer this much toward balancing your health and well-being?

Honestly, only by increasing the body’s natural levels of glutathione can you begin to treat chronic inflammation, the root cause of many illnesses and get on track to long-term health.

Source: inflammation911.com

Glutathione | Antioxidant Blend May Offer Protection in Life Threatening Conditions

A newly released study suggests that providing yourself with a broad spectrum of antioxidants will offer you protection even under such extreme conditions as total body irradiation. As published in the April, 2008 edition of Radiation Research, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a dietary supplement consisting of L-selenomethionine, vitamin C, vitamin E succinate, alpha-lipoic acid and N-acetyl cysteine could improve the survival of mice after total body irradiation.

Study and Results

Results of the study indicate that these antioxidants significantly increased the 30-day survival rate of the mice after their exposure to a potentially lethal dose of X rays when given prior to or after the irradiation. Pretreatment of animals with antioxidants resulted in significantly higher total white blood cell and neutrophil counts in peripheral blood. Antioxidants were effective in preventing peripheral lymphopenia (reduction in the number of lymphocytes circulating in the blood) only after low-dose radiation. Antioxidant supplementation was also associated with increased bone marrow cell counts after irradiation, and with increased Bcl2 and decreased Bax, caspase9 and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in the bone marrow after irradiation.

Maintenance of the antioxidant diet was associated with improved recovery of the bone marrow after sub-lethal or potentially lethal irradiation.

The researchers concluded that when taken together, oral supplementation with antioxidants appears to be an effective approach for radioprotection of hematopoietic (blood forming) cells and improvement of animal survival. Modulation of apoptosis is implicated as a mechanism for the radioprotection of the hematopoietic system by antioxidants.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are natural compounds that help protect the body from the ravages of free radicals. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that cause damage to cells, impair the immune system and lead to infections and degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Many scientists view free radical damage as the basis of the aging process.

Even a healthy body produces free radicals, many of them being oxygen derived. They may form in response to exposure to the sun, toxic chemicals, air pollution, or as part of various metabolic processes.

Ideally these free radicals are kept in check by free radical scavengers, which consist primarily of four enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), methionine reductase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The healthy body produces these enzymes as a matter of course. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, is also a highly powerful antioxidant produced by the body. And under ideal conditions, the body is also able to obtain antioxidants from food, such as vitamin A, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins C and E, and selenium. Some herbs also have potent antioxidant properties.

Unfortunately, today's food supply reflects less than ideal conditions, so it is quite difficult to get enough antioxidants from your diet to protect you from the ever increasing levels of free radicals generated in our polluted environment. As a result, many people are turning to dietary supplements, which can be extremely effective, as this study indicates.

Implications of the study

The researchers of this study chose to supplement their mice with a variety of powerful antioxidants. That's because antioxidants work synergistically in their ability to provide protection against free radicals, so it is better to take smaller doses of several different antioxidants than a large dose of only one. This finding has implications for diet as well as supplementation.

Some examples of obtaining a broad spectrum of antioxidants from the diet would be found in the decision to eat a variety of fruits during the day. By choosing to eat different fruits of different colors, you will obtain a much broader variety of antioxidants than you would if you chose to buy only a large bag of apples or oranges for the week. The variation in their color is your key to the variation of their antioxidant powers.

The same logic hold true with vegetables. You will achieve a much larger array of antioxidants by eating a salad made of small amounts of all the veggies on the salad bar than you will with a full size serving of only one variety. Again, let color be your guide. The more colors on your plate, the higher the variety of antioxidants.

If you are headed to the juice bar, don't just order the carrot juice. Ask for some of all the veggies or fruits they have available.

Berries are extremely rich in antioxidants. They have been shown to be especially protective against cancer.

If you decide to use antioxidant supplements, you can buy one of the multi-antioxidant formulations available. A better way may be to familiarize yourself with the major antioxidants and tailor your supplementation to the gaps in your diet. For example, if you eat a bowl of blueberries every morning, you won't need an antioxidant containing lutein.

The supplements used in the study

L-selenomethionine is a highly bioavailable form of selenium, a nutrient essential for the functioning of glutathione peroxidase, one of the body's main antioxidants. This is the form of selenium increasingly used in cancer treatment and studies and is believed to be protective against cancer. Since selenium content of fruits and vegetables is determined by the selenium content of the soil in which they are grown, it's hard to know that you are getting enough selenium from what you eat. But if you eat Brazil nuts regularly, you probably get plenty of selenium.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is required for at least 300 metabolic functions including tissue growth and repair, adrenal functioning, and oral health. It aids in the production of anti-stress hormones and the immune system protein, interferon. It is needed for the metabolism of folic acid, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Vitamin C can reduce the symptoms of asthma, and protect against the effects of pollution. It is cancer preventative, protects against infection and boosts the immune system. Vitamin C is able to combine with certain heavy metals and other toxic substances, and escort them out of the body. It is instrumental in lowering blood pressure and helping to prevent atherosclerosis and blood clots. It has anti-aging properties and is essential in the formation of collagen.

The body does not manufacture vitamin C so it must be obtained from diet or supplements. Good amounts of vitamin C are found in most fruits, particularly citrus and berries, and in many vegetables, particularly the green leafy varieties. Many herbs also contain amounts of vitamin C. The best supplements of vitamin C are food sourced, such as those from acerola cherry. The bioflavonoid complex is synergistic with vitamin C.

Vitamin E succinate is one of the two ester forms of vitamin E, the other being vitamin E acetate. The ester is a form more resistive to oxidation during storage than the unesterified form. Bio-availability is equal to that of free form vitamin E. The ester form, vitamin E succinate, is required to effectively inhibit growth and induce death in cancer cell grown in culture. Supplements of vitamin E may range from those containing only alpha tocopherol to those containing the full E complex of the four tocopherols and the four tocotrienols.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is known as the all purpose antioxidant. It is powerful in its own right, and also as a recycler of vitamins C and E. It can restore the antioxidant properties of these vitamins after they have already neutralized free radicals. ALA stimulates the production of glutathione in the body, and aids the absorption of coenzyme Q 10. ALA is water soluble as well as fat soluble, a feature that allows it to move into all parts of cells to deactivate free radicals.

According to Phyllis and James Balch in their Prescription for Nutritional Healing, supplemental ALA has been used in Europe for several decades to treat peripheral nerve degeneration and to aid in the control of blood sugar levels in diabetics. It helps the liver detoxify metal pollutants, blocks cataract formation, protects nerve tissues against oxidative stress, and reduces blood cholesterol levels. ALA may also be instrumental in the prevention and treatment of chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Without ALA, cells cannot use sugar to produce energy. People who choose to take only one antioxidant supplement often choose ALA. Food sources are spinach, broccoli, and organ meats.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a stable form of the amino acid cysteine, and is used by the liver and the lymphocytes to detoxify chemicals and other poisons. It is very powerful against alcohol, tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants, all of which suppress the immune system. It is needed for the production of glutathione and helps maintain glutathione levels in the cells. Supplementing with NAC can boost the levels of protective enzymes in the body, slowing the cellular damage that is characteristic of aging. It may also reduce the frequency and duration of infections. Combined with L Glutamine, NAC offers a powerful energy boost.

NAC is produced in the body from the amino acid cysteine found in all food sources of protein. Its synthesis is dependent on the availability of selenium, vitamin E and the B vitamins. Supplements of NAC are also available and are used in many anti-aging regimens.

Source: naturalnews.com

GSH / Reduced Glutathione and Skin Whitening

Glutathione is an amino acid found in every cell of a living organism. It’s considered as the ultimate and master antioxidant known to man because it protects the body from a multitude of diseases and conditions.

But as we age, our glutathione levels are depleted due to exposure to air pollutants, stress, drugs, smoking, or food chemicals that damage our cellular systems.

Glutathione Side Effects
Health benefits of Glutathione Skin Whitening Pill

As mentioned above, glutathione can help fight:

* infertility (especially for men)
* human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
* cancers
* cataracts
* thyroid problems
* liver problems (toxins, heavy metals, alcohol)
* chronic fatigue
* heart disease especially those with LDL or bad cholesterol
* multiple sclerosis
* Alzheimer disease
* Parkinson's disease
* arteriosclerosis
* and the list goes on…

And the skin benefits? L-Glutathione skin whitening works from the inside to repair and nourish skin -

* Gives skin a radiant glow.
* Makes pores finer.
* Removes skin hyperpigmentations.
* Skin becomes smoother and clearer.
* Controls acne and prevents acne marks.
* Defies the aging process.

The benefits of glutathione skin whitening pills are immense.

* It preserves good health.
* It promotes longer life.
* It is the anti-aging answer to premature wrinkling.
* It improves the immune system.
* It’s involved in the synthesis & repair of DNA (wow..).
* It detoxifies nicotine in the body (great for smokers!).

How long will I see an improvement?"

* Light-medium brown skin: 1-3 months
* Dark brown skin: 3-6 months
* Very dark skin: 6-12 months
* Black skin: 18 months minimum and above

It needs a little time to build up and work.

Though there is a faster way - IV Glutathione or Intravenous Glutathione. Yep, they're injectables and in much higher doses. Way more expensive too. They scare me a bit because I hate needles, but it may work faster compared to oral supplementation.

Like topical skin lighteners, results from taking skin whitening pills can get faster or slower depending on your skin sensitivity, metabolism and body chemical functioning.

A Glutathione skin whitening pill’s efficacy in skin whitening works only if it is taken with Vitamin C at least equal or twice its dosage. So if you’re taking 500mg of glutathione, Vitamin C should be at least 1000mg.

Conclusion: Is glutathione only for people who want to whiten their skin?
Answer: No! If you want to promote better health and wellness, help fight major diseases especially cancers, keep skin young-looking and radiant, control acne, and again, the list goes on and on, glutatione skin whitening pill is the way to go.

Side Effects:Generally considered to have no other side effect, except for skin lightening. No untoward interactions even with prolonged use.

Fact: Glutathione is a food supplement and not a drug, therefore doesn’t require a Food and Drug Administration approval in US. It is listed in the USFDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list of safe food supplements under specification 21CFR §184.1979c.

Glutathione is the best antioxidant of all time.

Source: skin-whitening-product.com

Glutathione, What is it?

Glutathione is a dietary supplement used as an antioxidant to help protect the body from many diseases and conditions. It is also used to treat infertility (difficulty getting pregnant), cancer, cataracts, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Glutathione is used to detoxify various chemicals from the body.

Other names for Glutathione include: Gamma-glutamylcysteinylglycine and GSH.

Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you need more information about this medicine or if any information in this leaflet concerns you.

Before Using:
Tell your doctor if you

* are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement)
* are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine
* are breastfeeding
* have other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease

Dosage:
Talk with your caregiver about how much Glutathione you should take. The amount depends on the strength of the medicine and the reason you are taking Glutathione. If you are using this medicine without instructions from your caregiver, follow the directions on the medicine bottle. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than the directions tell you to.

To store this medicine:
Keep all medicine locked up and away from children. Store medicine away from heat and direct light. Do not store your medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down and not work the way it should work. Throw away medicine that is out of date or that you do not need. Never share your medicine with others.

Warnings:

* Before taking Glutathione tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Side Effects:
Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.

* Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
* Chest pain
* Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin

Other Side Effects:
You may have the following side effects, but this medicine may also cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that you think are caused by this medicine.

* Zinc deficiency was seen in long term use of a combination product containing Glutathione

Source: pdrhealth.com

Glutathione | Glutathione

Glutathione peroxidase (GSH) is your body’s most abundant natural antioxidant. GSH protects your vision, boosts your immune system, helps turn carbohydrates into energy, and prevents the buildup of oxidized fats that may contribute to atherosclerosis.

Glutathione is a compound classified as a tripeptide made of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Glutathione is also found in every part of the body, especially the lungs, intestinal tract, and liver. The body produces and stores the largest amounts of GSH in the liver, where it is used to detoxify harmful compounds so that they can be removed from the body through the bile. The liver also supplies GSH directly to red and white blood cells in the bloodstream; it helps keep red blood and white blood cells healthy to maximize the disease-fighting power of the immune system. Glutathione also appears to have an anti-aging affect on the body. GSH levels decline with age, and a lack of glutathione has been shown to leave the body more vulnerable to damage by free radicals, thus speeding up oxidation (wearing down) of the body.

A glutathione deficiency can have a devastating effect on the nervous system, causing such symptoms as lack of balance and coordination, mental disorders, and tremors. Any illness (even a bad cold), chronic disorders such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, injury, or heavy exposure to pollutants can cause a GSH deficiency. This is because your body uses more GSH when it is supporting white blood cells and ridding the body of toxins.

Glutathione is found in almost all fruits and vegetables. Acorn squash, asparagus, avocado, cantaloupe, grapefruit, okra, orange, peach, potato, spinach, strawberries, tomato, watermelon, and zucchini are all good sources of GSH. Some vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and parsley, not only provide GSH, but also actually stimulate the body produce more of this powerful antioxidant. Cooking destroys a lot of the glutathione in fresh fruits and vegetables, so you can get the most GSH from these foods by eating them raw or steamed. Eating foods high in glutamine, such as lean meats, eggs, wheat germ, and whole grains, can also stimulate the liver to produce more GSH.

There is no Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for GSH, but supplements have no known harmful side effects. Glutathione supplements can be expensive, but there is some question about the body’s ability to absorb GSH efficiently in supplemental form. If you want to take GSH supplements, just make sure to take them with meals to maximize absorption.

Another, and some say better, way to raise glutathione levels is to take cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine, the raw materials it uses to make this compound. The N-acetyl form of cysteine (NAC) is easily absorbed by the body, and glutamine supplements are available in a powder that is cost effective, tasteless, odorless, and dissolves easily in water. The usual dose for extra glutamine is anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 milligrams.

Fish oil, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin C, and selenium also encourage the production and absorption of GSH. In fact, without selenium, a trace mineral that also helps vitamin E work more effectively, the body cannot produce glutathione. Make sure you are getting plenty of these nutrients to help keep your body healthy and strong at any age.

Source: vitaminstuff.com

Glutathione Related News | Cardiac Patients Recover Better With Heart Surgery Nutrition

It is called heart surgery nutrition and this is an easy way that cardiac patients can do something effective to improve their medical outcomes. Recent medical research is now showing that heart surgery nutrition is a very important way to protect a patient from damage that can be caused by the oxidative stress that goes along with angioplasty, coronary bypass, thrombolysis (using medication to dissolve blood clots), and the injury that results when oxygen is once again supplied to tissues that were oxygen deprived.

In fact, medical researchers are taking the important step of recommending that people take proactive, protective measures to combat the heavy oxidative stress that goes along with heart attacks, strokes, and heart surgery.

There are two important elements that researchers have found:

1. An extremely high level of free radical damage

2. An absence of glutathione (the body's own antioxidant) in people who are experiencing cardiac problems.

Both of these elements accompany heart disease and both occur when -

1. Blood flow to the heart is obstructed by a blockage of a coronary artery

2. Or there is a sudden, severe blockage that brings on a heart attack (myocardial infarction)

The good news is that heart surgery nutrition can easily be implemented and added to a patient's medical treatment to improve outcomes and even protect against further damage.

How To Prevent Further Cardiac Damage

A team of Canadian and Japanese heart researchers suggest now that the use of antioxidant therapy before a cardiac procedure such as angioplasty, coronary bypass, and thrombolysis may help prevent complications.

Without making sure that there are adequate protective mechanisms in place to combat free radicals our vascular systems can be overcome by atherosclerosis.

A Research team at Birmingham University examined over two thousand patients who had confirmed coronary artery disease in a randomized clinical trial. The results were:

* Patients who took antioxidant supplements reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by 47%.

* Cardiologists in Italy conclude that significant glutathione depletion occurs after cardiac ischemia.

* A study in the Japan Heart Journal measured the red blood cell glutathione of 21 patients with heart attacks. They found evidence of glutathione depletion and this indicates that this condition presents a major demand for glutathione.

How Your Body's Own Antioxidant Protects You

The principal antioxidant in our cells is glutathione (GSH). It protects all cells. It has been shown that there is a connection between cholesterol levels, glutathione levels, and plaque formation in the aorta. It has also been confirmed that GSH levels decrease as we age and this contributes to the formation of atherosclerosis.

Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are important and beneficial but the naturally occurring antioxidant in the cell is GSH. GSH changes these other antioxidants into their functionally active form.

Unfortunately, taking glutathione in pill form is not effective, because it is merely digested and does not get to the cells. To benefit from glutathione you need to add it as a nutraceutical both as pre- and postoperative nutrition.

Source: naturalnews.com

Benefit of grapes may be more than skin deep

Can a grape-enriched diet prevent the downhill sequence of heart failure after years of high blood pressure? A University of Michigan Cardiovascular Centre study suggests grapes may prevent heart health risks beyond the simple blood pressure-lowering impact that can come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The benefits may be the result of the phytochemicals - naturally occurring antioxidants - turning on a protective process in the genes that reduces damage to the heart muscle.

The study, performed in laboratory rats, was presented at the 2009 Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans.

The researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a blend of green, red, and black grapes) that were mixed into the rat diet in a powdered form, as part of either a high- or low-salt diet. Comparisons were made between rats consuming the grape powder and rats that received a mild dose of a common blood pressure drug. All the rats were from a research breed that develops high blood pressure when fed a salty diet.

After 18 weeks, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet powder had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and fewer signs of heart muscle damage than the rats that ate the same salty diet but didn't receive grapes.

Rats that received the blood pressure medicine, hydrazine, along with a salty diet also had lower blood pressure, but their hearts were not protected from damage as they were in the grape-fed group.

'There are the small changes that diet can bring, but the effect of grape intake on genes can have a greater impact on disease down the road,' said E. Mitchell Seymour, M.S., who led the research as part of his doctoral work in nutrition science at Michigan State University. He manages the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory, which is headed by U-M cardiac surgeon Steven Bolling, M.D.

Heart cells, like other cells in the body, make an antioxidant protein called glutathione, which is one of our first defenders against damaging oxidative stress. High blood pressure causes oxidative stress in the heart and lowers the amount of protective glutathione. However, intake of grapes actually turned on glutathione-regulating genes in the heart and significantly elevated glutathione levels.

This may explain why the hearts of grape-fed animals functioned better and had less damage.

Although the current study was supported in part by the California Table Grape Commission, which also supplied the grape powder, the authors note that the commission played no role in the study's design, conduct, analysis or the preparation of the journal article for publication. Seymour also receives funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, through a National Research Service Award.

Bolling said the latest results take research on the health benefits of grapes 'a step further' by examining the mechanisms impacted by antioxidant-rich grapes.

The rats in the study were from a strain called Dahl rats, which have been specially bred to all be susceptible to salt-induced hypertension. The animals are similar to

Americans who have elevated blood pressure related to diet, and who develop heart failure over time because of prolonged hypertension.

Each group of 12 rats was fed the same weight of food each day with powdered grapes making up 3 percent of the diet (by weight) for rats that received grapes as part of either a low-salt or high-salt diet. The rats that received hydrazine were fed it through their water supply in a dose that has been previously shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure.

Such naturally occurring chemicals have already been shown in other research, including previous U-M studies, to reduce other potentially harmful molecular and cellular activity in the body.

In all, the researchers say, the study further demonstrates that a grape-enriched diet can have broad effects on the development of hypertension and the risk factors that go with it. Whether the effect can be replicated in humans, they say, remains to be seen.

Source: sciencecentric.com

What is Glutathione

The Quick view...

The tri-peptide glutathione or (GSH) is a combination of the amino acids glutamate (glutamic acid), L-cysteine, and glycine. Each and every cell in the body takes these raw ingredients to manufacture GSH. It is a very small protein (made of three amino acids) and is essential for life. It serves to protect the body at the cellular level.

The GSH in each cell has numerous functions. The three most important jobs are antioxidant, immune booster and detoxifier.

When a patient is brought into the hospital with Tylenol overdose, the treatment of choice involves elevating the GSH with a fast acting but short lived drug known as NAC or also sold under the brand name Mucamyst.

Can I Take a GSH Supplement?

The general consensus from the experts on GSH is that you cannot take a supplement and build up your GSH levels within your body.

There is only one way to build and get the benefits of GSH. You need to take cysteine in a bioactive form.

To date, there are only two companies that have been able to clinically prove their product actually boosts intercellular GSH levels. Many copy-cat products will use these studies to market their cysteine.

Although they may work for some, the amount of product required do not seem to be backed up by clinical trials of reputable researchers.

How come I have never heard of Glutathione?

Although known about for years, it has eluded intense study until the last decade of the 20th century. Scientists looked at what it did and sought to find out how to use this molecule to enhance the health and wellness within the human body.

Studies in the most delicate of bodies with a most unfortunate disease included children infected with HIV and in full blown AIDs.

Also clinical trials with Parkinson’s, prostate cancer, lung cancer, improving the effects of chemotherapy in treating cancer, various lung diseases, wound healing, and athletic performance Enhancement were undertaken.

The results of these studies were and still are exciting. The results will change the way you think about disease, your personal health and wellness as it did for the individuals who were in the clinical trials. They will be discussed in length in other parts here on the GSH Disease Cure web site.

Source: glutathionediseasecure.com

Tips on Protecting Yourself From Acrylamides Lurking in the Foods You Love

Can you eat the foods you love occasionally without compromising your health? A new study shows that adding certain compounds to your diet can protect you from the harmful effects of acrylamides found in many of American's favorite foods.

As published in the July 15, 2008 edition of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, researchers found that three dietary constituents, tea polyphenols, resveratrol, and diallyl trisulfide, inhibit damage to DNA from acrylamides at levels typically found in human exposure. Results of analysis of the compounds with accelerator mass spectrometry demonstrated that all three significantly inhibited the formation of acrylamide damage to liver DNA, whereas tea polyphenols and diallyl trisulfide reduced DNA damage to protamines and hemoglobin as well.

Further biochemical studies showed that acrylamides could significantly inactivate creatine kinase and glutathione S-transferase and deplete glutathione. When the inhibitors were treated with acrylamide, all of them could effectively recover the activities of creatine kinase. In addition, tea polyphenols and diallyl trisulfide could increase glutathione S-transferase at a remarkably high level. Creatine kinase is an enzyme essential in biochemical reactions and energy generation. Glutathione S-transferase is a family of enzymes that play key roles in the detoxification of substances such as carcinogens, drugs, and byproducts of oxidative stress.

Acrylamides are formed when carbohydrate containing foods are baked, fried or roasted. They have been shown to cause cancer in animals exposed to high doses, as well as nerve damage. Acrylamides are not added to foods but occur naturally in the cooking process. Because of this, information on them is not required on food labels.

Any starchy food cooked at high temperatures will contain acrylamides. Potatoes that are fried may be the worst offenders, with potato chips fried to a golden brown containing the highest levels. Boiled or mashed potatoes will contain acrylamides as will cooked sweet potatoes. It can also be found in toasted or roasted cereal grains and bread products -- again with the highest levels contained in those baked to a golden brown, and corn roasted on a grill, or popped in oil. Pretzels are promoted as healthy snacks, but that golden brown color is your tip that they contain high levels of acrylamides. Coffee creates acrylamides during its roasting.

Acrylamides were discovered by Swedish scientists in 2002, and made headlines across America when they were first reported. Since then, there has been little interest by the FDA to keep people abreast of the dangers of eating acrylamide containing foods. The method by which acrylamides form in food remains unknown.

What we do know from this study is that by taking steps to protect ourselves from acrylamides, we don't have to be boorish sticks when we go out with our friends. We can eat foods containing acrylamides without suffering their effects if we also make sure we are fortified with tea polyphenols, resveratrol and diallyl trisulfide.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer properties of tea polyphenols, with recent studies adding gastric, esophageal and skin cancers to the list of those inhibited by polyphenols from tea consumed in high amounts. Another study showed ovarian cancer risk reduced by 46 percent in women drinking 2 cups of tea daily. Researchers have found tea polyphenols to lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, and help prevent heart disease. All types of tea contain polyphenols, with green and white tea having the highest levels due to their minimal processing.

Resveratrol is turning out to be so good for us that red wine may end up on the superfood list. It is found in the skin of red or purple grapes, and in peanut products that contain the skins, such as Spanish peanuts. Resveratrol has also been shown to help prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. A glass of tea or red wine during a meal containing foods that have produced acrylamides will offer you protection.

Diallyl trisulfide is a compound found in garlic that has been roasted, smashed or otherwise processed. Shown particularly effective in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, this compound is also a potent immune system booster.

All three of these compounds are extremely effective antioxidants.

If you plan to be eating foods that contain acrylamides, you can protect yourself by having supplements of theses compounds on hand. Each offers an array of other health benefits.

Source: naturalnews.com

For Your Glutathione Needs: Click Here

Antioxidants Important for Optimizing Health and Preventing Parkinson's

(NaturalNews) Research scientists at the Buck Institute have discovered that mice with less of the natural antioxidant glutathione, particularly in their dopamine-producing neurons, become crippled by nerve damage. In fact, the mice developed symptoms that match up very well with Parkinson's disease in human beings. In order to perform the experiment, scientists first created mice that could be triggered chemically to greatly reduce the amount of glutathione in their dopamine-creating neurons, which then resulted in the Parkinson-like symptoms.

This new discovery might call into question the current pharmaceutical approach to Parkinson's Disease; which doses patients with dopamine equivalents, or with drugs that boost dopamine's effect (as a former prescription drug, Methamphetamine, or "Crystal Meth" does). Unfortunately, these Parkinson's drugs also have been found to cause many of the effects that are also seen with Methamphetamine, such as gambling and other impulse-control problems. Now it seems that the underlying problem may not really be dopamine.

Antioxidants keep our cells clean by combining with and eliminating very dangerous reactive molecules that can cause random changes in proteins, resulting in cancer, heart disease or other chronic illnesses. Those random changes are often referred to as "oxidative stress" and cause inflammation as well. This new research shows that natural antioxidants are important in maintaining nerve cell function, too.

The good news is that you can boost your levels of natural antioxidants rather easily without prescription drugs in several ways. So if this new research holds up, by boosting your natural levels of antioxidants, you may be protecting yourself against Parkinson's Disease as well as cancer, infection, and much more.

Glutathione is probably the second most important antioxidant that our bodies make - melatonin is the most important, and by far the least costly to make use of, energetically. Vitamin C would come in third. Consistent sleep in true darkness is the best prescription to boost your melatonin; but of course, supplements of melatonin are also widely sold. Doses much less than the standard 3mg are now recommended however, since too much melatonin can slop over into daytime and confuse your clock and immune system. As well, it has been suggested that taking melatonin supplements may cause a decline in your own natural production of this critical antioxidant and night-time hormone.

A relatively new and easy approach to increasing melatonin production naturally, based on recent chronobiological research is to wear orange-tinted glasses (low blue light eyewear) for an hour or two in the morning and at night. By cutting out exposure to blue light, our bodies think it's night, and begin to produce melatonin. Since about ten hours of darkness (or low blue light) in which to produce melatonin are ideal, blocking blue light means more of the critical antioxidant melatonin, for better health. Experiments by researchers at the Lighting Innovations Institute of John Carroll University have shown this approach to be effective for fertility, depression, bipolar disorder, and other medical problems.

Many antioxidant food and nutritional supplements, such as lipoic acid, wolfberries (goji berries) and pomegranates have also been shown to have beneficial effects on health, by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

We all have plenty of glutathione in each of our cells, however most of it isn't charged up and ready for use at any given moment - in fact a standard medical measure of "oxidative stress" is whether at least ten percent of the glutathione in our cells is charged up and ready to be used, if needed. Glutathione isn't usually recommended as a nutritional supplement itself because it isn't easily absorbed by the gut. However its "precursor", the amino acid cysteine, is available.

For most of us in the modern world, the likely reason for having insufficient glutathione in the active form is that we aren't getting enough melatonin at night. Better sleep hygiene and more darkness, as well as more regular bedtimes, are a great way to start. Food or supplements rich in natural antioxidants are also valuable - and you can start today.

Source: naturalnews.com

Need Glutathione? Click Here

Glutathione | Improve Your Ocular Nutrition to Fight Eye Disease

There is now emerging research that suggests that a small protein called glutathione plays a significant role in protecting the eyes. Scientists have been aware of glutathione and its important ocular antioxidant properties for some time, but they did not know until recently how to raise glutathione levels.

Ocular nutrition and raising your glutathione level can be instrumental in preventing or resolving visual degeneration due to Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Cataracts. Low levels of glutathione are often seen in patients with these diseases. Raising glutathione with improved ocular nutrition can halt progress and often reverse these conditions.

Macular degeneration is defined as a progressive loss of vision because of a breakdown of the macula. The macula is the portion of the retina that is responsible for close vision. Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a top reason for sight loss in seniors over age 65.

Smoking and atherosclerosis are contributing factors that can make ARMD worse, although genetics is the predominant factor. ARMD is probably a result of cumulative damage of free radicals released because of exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. Other sources of oxidative stress may also play a role in its onset. The elderly often have low glutathione levels and this predisposes them to ARMD. This makes ocular nutrition very important.

Glaucoma is a serious condition that involves fluid pressure rising within the eye. Some pressure is necessary to maintain the shape of the eyeball, however too much pressure will compress and obstruct the small blood vessels of the eye. This will damage the optic nerve. Glaucoma is one of the top causes of vision loss.

Glaucoma becomes more common with aging, is genetic, and is many times connected to diabetes, hypertension, and nearsightedness. Traditional treatment concentrates on relieving the pressure by drug therapy or surgery.

Glaucoma patients have been found to generally have very low glutathione levels. Increasing glutathione levels has been found to either prevent glaucoma or delay the onset.

Cataracts are a clouding that occurs in the lens of the eye. This is the leading cause of vision impairment in the elderly and cataracts lead to over one million surgeries every year in the United States.

Research has shown that the onset of cataracts could be delayed or even prevented by raising glutathione levels. An effective defense against cataracts is improving one's ocular nutrition.

Broccoli and broccoli sprouts have been shown to be effective in protecting the retina against oxidative damage because these foods contain a compound called Sulphoraphane. Sulphoraphane boosts the body's defense system and enables it to fight free radicals.

Glutathione and Sulphoraphane have important advantages over regular antioxidants. Not only are they effective protection for the eyes, but they also protect every other part of the body. They also last between four and five days in cells after being consumed.

Other significant protective dietary ingredients are Lutein and Zeaxanthin. These are antioxidant carotenoids that are an important part of the macular pigment that protects the retina from degeneration.

Zeaxanthin helps protect the photo receptor cells present in the macula from damaging UV rays and also from free radical damage. Lutein is plentiful in many leafy green vegetables, such as kale, collards, spinach, Swiss chard, Beet and Mustard Greens, Romaine Lettuce, and Endive. It is also present in egg yolks, peas, red peppers, corn, pumpkin, beetroots, okra, leeks, celery, and Brussels sprouts.

Of course, Lutein supplements can protect your eyes. However, increasing the amount of leafy green vegetables in your diet is a much better way to fight eye diseases and macular degeneration. Not only are you helping your vision by raising your glutathione levels, you are helping your entire body!

Source: by Jo Hartley from naturalnews.com



Need Gluatathione? Click Here

Glutathione - The Master Antioxidant Also a Skin Whitening Pill?

With over 50,000 articles written about Glutathione, majority of the population still haven’t heard of it. What’s interesting is that it dwells in almost every cell of the body. Glutathione is made up to 3 amino acids; Cysteine, Glycine and Glutamic Acid, it plays a very critical role in one’s health and its absence is synonymous to death. This is why some doctors can determine someone’s lifespan by measuring the Glutathione levels in his body. If you can remember 3 things using the acronym A.I.D., then surely you’ll understand its tremendous impact in so many different pathologies. “A” stands for Antioxidant, “I” is Immune Booster, and the “D” stands for Detoxification. Glutathione is the major antioxidant produced naturally in the body and so most scientists refer to it as the “Master Antioxidant”. Imagine a peeled apple left for a few minutes; you will notice that after sometime, the peeled apple will turn to brown, this is called oxidation. Free Radicals attacks the cells of the body resulting into Oxidative Stress. This substance works by neutralizing these Free Radical, thus, protecting the cells. It has been suggested by most scientists that Glutathione links to the poison and other heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, pesticides and even automobile smoke. Once it links to all these carcinogens, they all become solouble and are easily expelled from the body though the bile or urine.

If this master antioxidant is so powerful and is readily available in the body, how come there are still a lot of people suffering from deadly diseases? It’s because Glutathione levels declines with age and in order for us to achieve optimal health, we need to replenish the levels of this substance in our body.

But wait! There is still another fact about Glutathione which you need to know. It has a side effect, skin whitening. Glutathione’s reputation in the East soared not because it is good for overall health but due to its skin lightening effect. It is popularly known as skin whitening pills, bleaching tablet, whitening capsules, and sold in most pharmacies and online stores. Its popularity conquered the whole continent since a lot of Asians wants to achieve a white and flawless skin.

How it works is by targeting an enzyme called Tyrosinase. It is present in both plants and animals and is responsible for catalyzing the production of Melanin in the skin. The lesser Melanin, the lighter the skin. Once this enzyme is inhibited, skin lightening gradually develops and it takes an average of 4-12 weeks before you see any noticeable change. Skin Whitening will only occur if the body’s Glutathione levels have already reached its threshold.

For people who wishes to achieve a lighter complexion, erase years from their skin and have a healthy and radiantly glowing body, this is the best solution. Not only does it give you a celebrity-like skin and a healthy body, but it is also very safe compared to conventional remedies like hydroquinone, bleaching and the likes.

Glutathione should be taken in its reduced form known as L-glutathione in order for it to work as skin whitener. Find a formulation that contains vitamin c and other antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid and grape seed extract which will yield the best possible result for your skin and health.

Beware! Only buy from reputable and legitimate source of L-glutathione skin whitening pills to ensure that you are getting the real deal. Seek for proofs like certificate of product authenticity and testimonials as your reference.

Recent studies show the role of Glutathione in treating cancer, infertility, cataracts and even HIV, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Autism and other neurodegenerative diseases. You can never go wrong with this supplement that possesses multiple wonders and benefits. Achieve a beautiful fair skin and acquire the gift of wellness. Glutathione is the key to beauty and longevity!

Source: medicalsupportforum.com

For your glutathione needs: Click Here