Glutathione (GSH) is a peptide consisting of three key amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycine and every cell in our bodies produces it to protect cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage. The actual ways in how we age are directly correlated to the amount of GSH in our bodies, since glutathione levels typically decrease in time, resulting in increased susceptibility to metabolic stress. Those who have higher glutathione levels tend to have a higher metabolism, essential to maintaining a healthy immune system.
The benefits to a healthy GSH level include:
- Healthy T-cell function
- Helps the liver detoxify fat
- Protects you from oxidative damage
- Helps digest proteins
- Reduced inflammation in the body
- Detoxification of methylglyoxal (a natural toxin by-product of metabolism)
Normally glutathione is recycled in the body, but this can stop completely when toxicity becomes overwhelming. A poor diet, pollution, medications, stress, trauma, and infections will all reduce the level of GSH in your body and speed up the aging process.
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, turnips, bok choy and protein-rich foods, such as fish, poultry, meats, nuts and legumes can help to increase glutathione levels in the body.
Regular exercise can also stimulate glutathione production. It helps with workouts because raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance and shifts your metabolism from fat production to muscle development.
When diet and exercise aren’t enough, the best way to treat GSH deficiencies is with a glutathione IV treatment. Glutathione is not absorbed well by the body when taken via oral supplementation, so IV treatment is the most efficient way for full absorption. The treatments can produce immediate results to improve immune function and even reverse the effects of strokes, liver damage, Parkinson’s disease and lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic contamination. The anti-aging effects alone are worth considering the treatments.
Treatment is usually administered intravenously over 20-30 minutes up to 3 times per week for 4-8 weeks. Glutathione is frequently combined with other IV therapies like phosphatidylcholine, vitamin C, basic vitamin infusions, chelation therapy and lipoic acid therapy. Your doctor can personalize a plan the most benefits your needs.
