Glutathione is the premiere antioxidant in the body. It helps reverse the effects that metabolism byproducts, drugs, and environmental toxins have on the body.

Free radicals are unpaired electrons that are produced from chemical reactions. These unpaired electrons are looking for another electron to pair with, and they don’t care if pairing disrupts the structure of proteins and other molecules like DNA in your cells. These changes in structure affect how well enzymes work.

As we age, oxidative damage increases, and glutathione levels decrease. Lower glutathione levels have been linked to poorer health overall and increased risk of common health problems such as cancers and type 2 diabetes.

Yes, but your body doesn’t absorb glutathione well. Foods that are high in sulfur contain glutathione, including:

• Asparagus
• Avacado
• Cucumber
• Green beans
• Papaya
• Spinach

To preserve glutathione in these foods:

• Eat them raw or mildly steamed
• Don’t freeze cruciferous vegetables
• Add powdered mustard seed while cooking to increase sulforaphane content

The kidneys need a rich supply of glutathione. This is because the delicate filtering tubules in the kidney are exposed to free radicals and other toxins, and glutathione protects them.

If you have chronic kidney disease or use dialysis to clean your blood, talk to your kidney specialist before changing your diet or using any supplements.

Metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes all increase oxidative stress in the body. Too many free radicals and not enough antioxidant activity in the form of glutathione worsens these conditions.

In one study, adults with metabolic syndrome, obesity, or type 2 diabetes were divided into high glutathione and low glutathione groups after a weight-loss regimen that included dietary modifications and exercise. In all, glutathione levels were decreased after the intervention. However, the high glutathione group noted increased weight loss and body fat reduction.

Glutathione is involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in the body. It plays a key role in defense against damage from free radicals, nutrient metabolism, and regulating multiple metabolic pathways in the body.

Glutathione does not necessarily speed up metabolism, but it does maximize the efficiency of chemical reactions in the body.

Glutathione deficiency is classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Potential symptoms of glutathione deficiency include:

• Fatigue
• Pale skin color
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle aches

Glutathione levels decrease with age, and low glutathione levels are linked to many chronic diseases associated with aging. Therefore, restoring glutathione levels may reduce your risk for these chronic diseases by increasing glutathione’s antioxidant potential and reducing the damage caused by free radicals.

Glutathione can be consumed as part of a healthy diet, especially in sulfur-containing fruits and vegetables. It is also available in dietary supplements.