Glutathione is your body’s “master antioxidant”.
Every cell of your body contains glutathione. And glutathione makes any other antioxidant which you ingest more effective.
Low glutathione levels are associated with serious diseases such as cancer [2], Aids [2] and diabetes [2].
As we age, our glutathione levels decline. Indeed, low glutathione levels may be associated with aging quickly:
Glutathione is also central to many other basic mechanisms in our body, such as immune response, blood transport and protein synthesis:
Numerous studies have shown that glutathione can help protect cells against radiation damage, including studies published in the following journals:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences [3]; and here [4] and here [5]
This is not entirely surprising, given that it’s well-documented that all antioxidants help to protect against damage from radiation [13]. Specifically, one of the main ways in which low-level ionizing radiation damages our bodies is by the creation of free radicals [13]. (This 2-minute BBC video [14] shows how damaging free radicals can be to your health.)
Columbia University explains [15] the damaging effects of low-level radiation through free radical creation:
[15]
Some radiation experts argue [16] that the creation of a lot of free radical creation is the most dangerous mechanism of low level ionizing radiation:
During exposure to low-level doses (LLD) of ionizing radiation (IR), the most of harmful effects are produced indirectly, through radiolysis of water and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant enzymes – superoxide dismutase (SOD): manganese SOD (MnSOD) and copper-zinc SOD (CuZnSOD), as well as glutathione (GSH), are the most important intracellular antioxidants in the metabolism of ROS. Overproduction of ROS challenges antioxidant enzymes.
We’ve previously told you how to get past the hype to find the foods that are highest in antioxidants [17].
But glutathione – as the “master antioxidant”, which is in every cell of your body – is probably the most important one to focus on.
Dr. Jimmy Gutman – a practicing physician, former Undergraduate Director and Residency Training Director of Emergency Medicine at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, who has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians – claims:
Raising glutathione levels protects cells from damage from the most dangerous of free radicals, the hydroxyl-radical, is released when ionizing radiation hits us.
Note also that exposure to radiation depletes glutathione [18] in your body. You basically use up glutathione neutralizing the free radicals created by radiation. So it is important to keep your glutathione levels up when you are exposed to radiation.
How Can We Boost Glutathione Levels?
Despite the hype from the supplement industry, glutathione supplements don’t do anything. Specifically, our stomach acid destroys glutathione … so you’ll be throwing money away if you buy supplemenets.
But you can eat foods that are high in the precursors to glutathione … and your body will use them to make more glutathione.
Specifically, 3 amino acides – cysteine, glycine and glutamate – are the precursors to glutathione production.
Protein-rich foods tends to be high in all 3. But heating or pasteurizing them destroys many of the glutathione-producing properties.
For example, raw eggs and raw meat are high in cysteine, but cooking destroys the cysteine. Most industrially-raised meat is of poor quality [19], and large-scale egg producers have been riddled with salmonella [20] and other problems in recent years.
If you raise your own animals for meat or egg-laying hens, then you’ll know they’re safe. Otherwise, it may be a little risky eating raw eggs or meat.
Raw milk is apparently very high [21] in glutathione precursors. But the USDA says that raw milk can be dangerous … and the police may go to some length to shut down [22] raw milk producers.
Raw cruciferous vegetables (brocolli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cress, and bok choy) are also a good source of cysteine. But you would have to eat a lot of them … which would cause stomach distress in many people.
So what’s the answer?
Exercise [23] boosts glutatione (and see this [24]). Lack of sleep [25] can deplete glutathione. So exercise and get enough rest.
Numerous scientific studies show that “undenatured whey protein” raises glutathione levels. See this [26], this [27], this [28], this [29], this [30], and this. [31] (Whey protein is derived from milk or cheese, and “undenatured” just means that it is heated enough to kill bacteria … but not high enough to destroy the glutathione precursors.) You can buy it at most health food stores.
If you are a vegan – eating neither meat or dairy products – then you may want to make sure you get enough brown rice protein (because it’s high in the glutathione precursor cysteine [32]).
Supplements available in health food stores – such as Alpha lipoic acid [33] (and here [34]), N-acetylcysteine [35], S-adenosyl-L-methionine [36], and the herb milk thistle [37] (and see this [38]) – have also been shown to boost glutathione levels.
For more information on glutathione from physicians – including additional tips for boosting glutathione levels – see this [25], this [39] and this [40].
Postscript: Many companies are trying to sell various glutathione boosters. Some work, some don’t … and some do more harm than good. We don’t endorse any specific product.
Read this [41] for more information on how to protect yourself from radiation.