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GLUTATHIONE: The Body’s Master Antioxidant
A NECESSITY FOR LIFE!!
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide (3 amino acids bonded together) known as
L- GlutamylCysteinylGlycine made by our body cells for protection and survival.
In medicine, GSH is well known and well accepted as the most important natural health factor in the body. It exists IN EVERY LIVING CELL of EVERY LIVING THING IN THE SKY / LAND /
WATERS ON THIS WONDERFUL EARTH!!!
It is made up of 3 amino acids :
1. Cysteine - The limiting factor in the manufacturing of intracellular GSH
2. Glycine - Promotes metabolism
3. Glutamate - Component of brain cells
- Glycine and Glutamate are easily available from our food but Cysteine is relatively rare and as it is easily denatured (destroyed ) by heating/cooking (begins to denature at 42ºC; totally denatured by 55ºC), it is difficult to obtain sufficient amounts of Cysteine from our daily meals.
- Your body uses Glutathione to
- protect your cells from free radical damage
- to eliminate toxins
- to support energy production
- to help enhance immune system functions. That’s the good news.
Research show that our Glutathione levels in the body decreases naturally with age.
- Some people with genetic predisposition have their Glutathione levels drop earlier in life.
Various diseases begin to strike them at a relatively young age. This is partly due to faster than normal cellular deterioration and partly due to weaker and/or incorrect immunity responses.
Adequate Glutathione is essential for the proper functioning of the Immune system.
Why the Decrease?
There are several factors effecting the decrease in Glutathione levels with age. Stress is a factor. As stress goes up from work, relationships and the pressures of life, it takes a toll on your body’s health. Greater levels of glutathione are needed to offset the increased free radical production caused by these stress factors. Add to this a diet of convenience foods which include many artificial ingredients, colorings and preservatives. All of these challenge your liver to increase its need for glutathione to offset the added toxins. Additionally, convenience foods don’t contain the necessary nutrients needed to help create and maintain your Glutathione benefits.
To compound the problem, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients decreases with age. At the same time your body’s exposure to environmental toxins begins affecting your overall health. All of these factors play a role in decreasing your Glutathione levels unless you take steps to offset this
process.
All illnesses and diseases are biochemical in nature.
MASSIVE CONTINUING WORLD WIDE RESEARCH SHOWS MANY ILLNESSES HAVE A COMMON FACTOR: LOW GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN THE BODY.
A Prolonged DEFICIENCY in Glutathione = ILLNESS & / OR AGING.
There are 9 Main Functions of Glutathione
1. Antioxidant
2. Immunity booster
3. Detoxifier
4. Suppressor of Inflammation
5. Transporter of amino acids
6. Regulator of bodily response to injury
7. Enzymes activator
8. Strengthens synthesis and repair of DNA
9. Steers direction of synthesis of proteins
A I D S T R E S S - Remember this acronym for the functions of Glutathione.
Even if you feel fine, less than normal levels of Glutathione may be causing your internal organs
to under-perform and eventually malfunction. By the time the symptoms appear, some irreparable damage may have been done.
The golden proverb "Prevention is better than cure" certainly holds true.
How can I Boost Glutathione level in my body ?
Since 1993, there is an effective way to replenish the Glutathione. Instead of taking Glutathione, one can take the precursor (building block) of Glutathione, namely BONDED CYSTEINE.
When taken orally, Cysteine is not digested in the stomach, this means that it is NOT destroyed like Glutathione pills. The bonded cysteine is absorbed through the intestine into blood and transported to individual cells. Here, cysteine is released and enzymatically combined with 2 other amino acids; glutamate and glycine to form useful cellular Glutathione, PRODUCT CALLED GSH-Immunity®
This method has been clinically proven to effectively replenish Glutathione levels in the body.
Medical researchers have known the benefits of high Glutathione levels for about 119 years!!
Taking Glutathione orally is of minimal use. When taken orally, almost all is broken up in the stomach and hence destroyed. Pills will not replenish the Glutathione levels in your body.
Injecting Glutathione into the bloodstream helps certain critically ill patients but is not relevant to the normal person.
Glutathione benefits are far ranging for the human body and can include:
- improved energy
- reducing the effects of inflammation common with aging
- improved sleep
- improved mental focus
- improved recovery from physical activity
- support for the immune system
- cellular detoxification
- disease protection
- liver support
- circulatory support
- digestive support
- respiratory support
- brain support
Disease Protection!
Since glutathione is found in all cells and is your master antioxidant, it plays a significant role in helping the body stay well and protecting it from diseases like:
Cataracts – According to the April 2000 Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics “The reducing compound glutathione (GSH) exists in an unusually high concentration in the lens where it functions as an essential antioxidant vital for maintenance of the tissue’s transparency.” Sunlight and UV radiation is a very potent oxidizing agent. To protect the
cornea, lens and retina of the eye, glutathione is directly utilized by the lens of the eye to offset the potential free radical damage of sunlight. Glutathione benefits the eye to help prevent cataracts from forming.
Brain and Nervous System Disorders – The brain’s main antioxidant is glutathione – it’s importance cannot be overstated.” The number of brain and nervous system disorders that have been linked to oxidative stress includes:
- Brain injury and trauma
- Stroke
- Ischemia
- Toxicity of lead and mercury
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Down syndrome
- Sleep deprivation
Liver Disease – According to Dr. Parris Kidd of Thorne Inc. in a 22 page overview of glutathione benefits published in the 1997 edition of Alternative Medicine Review, “GSH (glutathione) depletion has been suggested to represent an important contributory factor to liver injury. . .” One of the main functions of the liver is to filter out toxins and convert them to water-soluble compounds that your body can eliminate through bile and urine. There are two detoxification pathways in the liver and both heavily depend on glutathione. If glutathione is deficient in either or both of these detoxification pathways then these toxins can have extremely detrimental affects on your liver.
Lung Disease – Your lungs are directly in the path of airborne contaminants such as cigarette smoke, atmospheric pollutants and other environmental toxins that can be inhaled. It is
important to note that glutathione is present in the epithelial lining of the lower respiratory tract. Glutathione deficiencies have been documented in several lung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis!
Immune System Disorders – The growth and differentiation of immune cells is dependent on glutathione. In numerous experimental studies, when glutathione is purposely depleted
there is a marked reduction in immune cell function. This, combined with other important findings, clearly shows that intracellular levels of glutathione play a central role in the
functioning of immune cells. Two examples of immune system disorders that seem to have a correlation with low glutathione levels are lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Cardiovascular System Disorders - The endothelial cells that line the blood vessels are critical to the proper function of your cardiovascular system. They are involved in the production of
nitric oxide which helps to regulate blood flow and blood pressure. These endothelial cells are extremely vulnerable to oxidative stresses. Atherosclerosis seems to be linked
to oxidative damage to the endothelial cells especially when glutathione levels are low. This damage is even more prevalent in diabetics who typically have lower glutathione levels.
Sickle Cell Anemia – Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder in which the lifespan of the red blood cell is markedly decreased from an average of 120 days to 17 days. Although the research in
this area is small, there does seem to be a relationship between lower levels of glutathione and increased susceptibility of the red blood cell to change from oval to sickle. Oxidative stresses seem to trigger this shape change which can be life-threatening for the
individual with sickle cell anemia.
Aging– Although not considered to be a disease, aging does have its challenges. Numerous studies have shown that glutathione levels decrease with age. This allows for greater oxidative stress and free radical damage to occur. It has been documented that higher levels of glutathione concentrations are associated with good health. People with chronic diseases had lower mean glutathione concentrations than those that were disease free.
Benefits of ADEQUATE GLUTATHIONE in the Body Cells...
List of conditions and diseases that benefit from Adequate Cellular levels of Glutathione:
Aging
Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
Balding and Hair Loss
Cataract
Macular Degeneration (MD)
Osteoarthritis
Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Age-related Decline in Immunity
Brain and Nervous Conditions
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Bipolar Disorders
Depression
Down's Syndrome
Schizophrenia
Seizure (Epilepsy)
Cardiovascular Conditions
Atherosclerosis
Brain Stroke
Cardiovascular Disease
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Hypertension
Reperfusion Injury
Cancers
Cancer Prevention
Cancer Treatment
Reducing side-effects of Chemotherapy (Chemoprotection)
Reducing side-effects of Radiotherapy (Radioprotection)
Prevent Wasting Disease (Cachexia)
Lung Cancer
Breast Cancer
Infectious Diseases and Immunology Conditions
Viral Diseases
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Flu or Influenza
Herpes
Hepatitis
Bacterial Infections
Sepsis
Autoimmune Dysfunctions
Diabetes II
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Pulmonary Conditions
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Emphysema
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
Digestive System
Diabetes I
Gastritis and Peptic Ulcers
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - Ulcerative colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - Crohn's Disease (CD)
Malnutrition
Pancreatitis
Reflux Oesophagitis
Liver & Gallbladder
Alcoholic Liver Disease
Gallstones
Reproductive System
Female
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Hypertension
Pre-eclampsia
Male
Sperm Disorders (Dyspermia)
Skin Disorders
Acne Vulgaris
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Behchet's Disease
Psoriasis
Lupus or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Sunburn
Eyes, Ear, Nose & Throat Problems
Eales' Disease
Glaucoma
Sinusitis
Ear Infection or Otitis
Noise-induced Hearing loss
Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease
Kidneys
Polycystic Kidney Diseases
Complications of Dialysis
Metabolism
Increases HDL (Good) Cholesterol
Decreases Oxidation of LDL (Lipid Peroxidation)
Inflammation
DNA Damage and Repair
Diabetes Complications
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Nephropathy
Diabetic Retinopathy
Detoxification
Detoxifies certain Drugs
Detoxifies substances in Cigarette Smoke
Detoxifies pollutants including Heavy metals
Detoxifies many well-known Carcinogens
Trauma & Burns (Healing & Recovery)
Decreases recovery time from Burns
Decreases recovery time from Wounds
Cold Stress
Strenuous Exercise & Athletic Performance
Enhances athletic performance
You can find publishings in pubmed concerning research in the above areas...
(PubMed = Medical Publications)
The website "PubMed" is in the United States, hosted by the USA
The PubMed website address is :-
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/fcgi
Steps to increase or maintain Glutathione levels...
The evidence is clear that Glutathione levels are important for cellular health and clearly aid the liver in detoxification. What is not so clear is how to help your body maintain and/or increase your glutathione benefits. Because of the growing popularity of this nutrient, especially as it applies to slowing down the aging process, there have been numerous Glutathione supplements appearing in the marketplace.
It is important to note that most glutathione supplements do not appear to increase Glutathione levels. This is because as a tri-peptide it is not well absorbed by your body. In the digestive system it is usually broken down into its amino acids. Additionally, most cells in the body cannot directly absorb Glutathione because of its size and shape. Most cells absorb the COMPONENT parts and then synthesize Glutathione inside the cell.
The essential amino acid L-methionine seems to have a positive effect on increasing Glutathione benefits in the body. This is because your body can convert this amino acid into Cysteine which is a necessary component for the formation of Glutathione. It seems that L-cysteine is the precursor that most limits the body’s ability to synthesize Glutathione.
WARNING: Stay away from supplements that promote L-cysteine. By itself, Cysteine is easily oxidized into toxic products that can negatively affect your brain, retina, and other areas of the body.
A safe alternative to L-cysteine is N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) which is a precursor for Cysteine. It is well absorbed by the intestine. It does not raise Glutathione levels if they are already within a normal range. But it will help to raise abnormally low Glutathione levels to bring them back to normal. NAC has been widely used in Europe because it has anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties in addition to being a powerful antioxidant. NAC however is a drug and has side effects so cannot be taken for a long term.
Because the majority of the body’s Glutathione is made in the liver from its essential amino acid building blocks, a complete dietary protein or amino acid source is important.
One such clinically proven amino acid source is called GSH-Immunity.
This is a PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE bioactive whey protein and bonded Cystine dietary supplement derived from lactose free organic milk. Research shows that Glutathione benefits can be achieved from this product.
Now I’d like to hear from you…
Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below.
To Your Good Health,
Dr Elena M Morreale
For More Information: Call Dr Elena Morreale (Alternative Cancer and Health Therapies, Tampa, FL) 813-968-5404 .
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
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