Glutathione is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in your body, protecting your liver and other organs from damage. Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of L-glutamine, glycine, and L-cysteine. Since glutathione is so essential to overall health and stress and aging are known to cause glutathione deficiencies, there are many benefits to taking glutathione injections or supplements or consuming glutathione and its precursors in your diet.
Stresses on your body contribute to low glutathione levels, such as:1,2
Aging and stress deplete glutathione, which leaves your liver vulnerable to damage from Tylenol and other toxins.
Glutathione levels decline in body cells during the aging process, even if you are overall healthy.3
Symptoms associated with low glutathione levels include:
Glutathione is produced naturally in our body in three ways:4
Getting glutathione intact from the mouth through the gastrointestinal tract, across the intestine, into the bloodstream, and into cells is challenging. Glutathione is broken down into its component amino acids in the gastrointestinal tract. There is a balance between the amount of glutathione produced in the liver and excreted into the bloodstream and glutathione absorbed through the gut. Body cells have a hard time absorbing glutathione intact. Ensuring your diet is high in L-cysteine, L-glutamine, and glycine provides the building blocks it needs to produce glutathione.5 The glutathione precursors are found in many foods and drinks, such as the following. 5,6
Your body makes cysteine from methionine, an essential amino acid. Neither cysteine nor methionine is stored in the body, so consuming them in your diet or taking supplements is essential. 6
Foods high in cysteine or methionine include:
Your body can make glycine, and it is found in:
Glutamate can be made in your body and consumed in your diet. Glutamate is found in:
In addition to building a healthy diet around these nutritious foods, choose foods and drinks rich in vitamin C and selenium. Like glutathione, vitamin C is an antioxidant. Supplementing with it can help spare glutathione.
Selenium is a glutathione cofactor and an essential mineral. It can help optimize glutathione function.
Besides good nutrition, getting plenty of restful sleep and exercising regularly can increase glutathione levels.
If you’re wondering how to get enough glutathione for good health, reach out to the treatment specialists at Invigor Medical.
Looking to purchase and get a Glutathione prescription? Shop Invigor Medical today!
DISCLAIMER
While we strive to always provide accurate, current, and safe advice in all of our articles and guides, it’s important to stress that they are no substitute for medical advice from a doctor or healthcare provider. You should always consult a practicing professional who can diagnose your specific case. The content we’ve included in this guide is merely meant to be informational and does not constitute medical advice.