What is glutathione and how to supplement it correctly?

 

Glutathione is the most important antioxidant and detoxifying molecule in the human body. It plays a very important role in maintaining human organ function, enhancing the immune system, regulating inflammation, and slowing down the body's oxidation rate.

Many people lack glutathione due to inappropriate lifestyles and incorrect dietary habits.

This can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, reduce the body's antioxidant capacity, accelerate aging, and increase our risk of various diseases.

So what form should we use to supplement glutathione

Direct use of such supplements or drugs can also increase the level of glutathione in the human body, but it can have side effects on certain individuals, such as allergies, rashes, abdominal pain, bloating, and loose stools.

Usage: Inhalation, oral administration, injection.

1. Inhaling glutathione may cause respiratory problems in some mild asthma patients.

2. Oral glutathione, in addition to the aforementioned issues, can also increase unpleasant odors in the mouth, such as strong acidity and sulfuric acid, and the absorption rate of oral glutathione is not high.

3. To bypass the influence of the digestive tract on glutathione molecules, injecting glutathione can make it easier to enter the bloodstream and cells. However, it still has the common side effects mentioned above, as well as some risks caused during drug injection, such as pain at the injection site, itching stimulation, redness and swelling.

It should be noted that long-term consumption of glutathione, regardless of its form, may lower zinc levels in the body, leading to more problems.

Excessive supplementation of glutathione, exogenous antioxidants, or manipulation of genes to regulate glutathione synthase to increase glutathione. If the special requirements of individual cells are not taken into account, it may lead to reducing stress, which can interfere with cell function and bring a series of adverse reactions.

In this case, a better solution is to provide sufficient raw materials for the cells to independently synthesize glutathione. If the cell function is normal, the body's synthesis of glutathione mainly relies on three amino acids.

The first type is glutamate, which is ubiquitous in your diet and body.

The other two amino acids are N-acetylcysteine and glycine, which are rate limiting amino acids that affect the human body's synthesis of glutathione.

Previous studies believed that N-acetylcysteine supplementation could improve the level of human glutathione, but the latest research trend has shifted from N-acetylcysteine supplementation to the combination of N-acetylcysteine and glycine glycine nac, which can improve many problems such as glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, etc.

Another article in 2022 also mentioned that people infected with novel coronavirus will lack glutathione.

Some older individuals with higher blood sugar levels and lower immune function may exhibit more severe symptoms. Therefore, some studies suggest that supplementing them with antioxidants and glutathione may have beneficial effects.

However, there may also be a risk of reducing the level of reactive oxygen species and inducing reducing stress, so the combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine supplementation may be a safer and more beneficial option, which can support the human immune system response in depth and help our body reduce some stress.

Improving the level of glutathione can also be achieved through the following methods

Proper diet

The sulfur content in onion vegetables and Brassicaceae vegetables is particularly rich, including onions, garlic, Broccoli, cauliflower, seafood, beef, organ meat, beans, milk and eggs. Their methionine and cysteine are relatively abundant. The skin, tendons, and cartilage of animals are rich in glycine. They are all excellent sources of glutathione synthesis in the human body.

Healthy Sleep

Adequate deep sleep can reduce the body's oxidative stress levels and reduce the high demand for glutathione, so this is actually indirectly increasing the body's glutathione levels.

motion

Only regular and suitable exercises, such as aerobic exercise and Strength training, can reduce the level of oxidative stress in the body and play the same role as health. If it is excessive exercise, such as long-distance running and marathon, it will consume more glutathione.

*Special note - This article is for informational purposes only and cannot replace a doctor's treatment diagnosis and advice. It should not be regarded as a recommendation or proof of efficacy of the medical products involved. If it involves disease diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, please be sure to go to a professional medical institution to seek professional advice.