Glutathione may actually be one of the most important molecules you have never even heard of in your life. I know I was not introduced to it in my medical training prior to starting down the functional medicine path.
Shocking, I know.
Known as the master antioxidant, glutathione is perhaps our most effective tool in
defending against the ever-growing toxic burden we face in living in the modern world.
Naturally, our bodies make glutathione as part of Phase 2 detoxification through the
antioxidant pathway. The sulfur molecule in glutathione acts like a kind of stinky glue
that gobbles up free radicals and toxins. In this way, glutathione helps to defend against and detoxify our bodies from the neurotoxins, mycotoxins and biotoxins produced by mold and other bacteria and viruses as well as environmental pollutants and heavy
metals.
Glutathione is especially good at healing neural tissue, which makes it a perfect addition to treatment programs addressing conditions like concussion, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, and ALS.
In an earlier blog post, I shared that sulfur containing
cruciferous vegetables help to boost antioxidant activity in the body, including supporting glutathione production. You can also help to support glutathione in a number of other ways. Milk thistle, whey protein, N- acetyl- cysteine (NAC), selenium, and other
antioxidants like vitamins C and E and alpha-Lipoic acid, plus methylation support all
serve as precursors and help to support natural glutathione production. Exercise can even
boost our own natural glutathione production.
Taking glutathione orally does not work, as it simply gets digested into its amino acids.
Liposomal glutathione formulations do work as they are are absorbed directly through the
mouth or directly into circulation through the lining of the digestive system.
If you would like to boost your own detoxification through a more direct supplementation
of glutathione, we carry three liposomal formulas in our office. I like the liposomal
capsules by Essential Pro, or the sublingual forms Tri Fortify, by Researched Nutritionals or the Quicksilver Scientific sublingual Glutathione and are available in our office or on Fullscripts.
If you are having issues with fatigue, insomnia or other chronic health conditions, or if you are just ready to jump-start your health and boost detoxification, glutathione is even better given in intravenous form!
We offer IV’s 3 days a week, so call and schedule a glutathione IV today and start
protecting yourself from any number of toxin related chronic disease including heart
disease, cancer, and dementia and treat yourself to this key component of any
detoxification and anti-aging protocol.