Glutathione

The ‘Master’ Antioxidant
  • Think of free radicals and oxidants as 'mentally unstable looters'. To stabilise their mental state (their uneven number of electrons), they steal bricks (electrons) from the walls of houses (your cells) in the town (your body).

  • The houses can repair themselves if the looting is slow but, as soon as there is a flood of looters from, for example, poor diet, pollution, toxins, stress, ageing and infection, the houses can't repair themselves in time and they collapse. 

  • Because the houses are packed tightly together like in high-density living areas, if one house collapses, it has a knock-on effect to all the other surrounding houses. This is called 'oxidative stress' and it is what determines how fast you will age: (premature ageing) of the body, outside and in. Oxidative stress can affect your joints, brain, cardiovascular system, detox system along with many other cells, pathways and systems in your body.

  • Glutathione steps in and donates bricks (electrons) to the looters. It also reloads electrons in the taser guns of your riot police (your antioxidants such as vitamin C and E). This way, your defences to internal and external threats always remain robust. 

  • A free radical is a reactive compound with an unpaired electron. Free radicals are harmful because they "steal" electrons from healthy molecules.

  • Glutathione can neutralise free radicals by itself plus, it can go one step further, and 'reload' or ‘refresh’ other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.

  • After antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E neutralize free radicals, they become unstable free radicals themselves. Glutathione helps recycle these unstable molecules, returning them to active duty and extending their ability to scavenge for and neutralize other free radicals and oxidants.

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Where does glutathione come from?
  • Some Glutathione is produced internally, while some is provided by the diet.

  • Your body produces its own glutathione. To do this efficiently, it needs enough specific building blocks, and all your glutathione genes present and correctly spelt.

  • Because of the body’s ability to make glutathione, glutathione is not considered an “essential” nutrient – but under some conditions, we need more glutathione than the body can produce.

  • Levels of glutathione can be depleted by poor diet, pollution, toxins, stress, ageing and infection.

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Factors that can affect your glutathione levels
  • Time of day: According to researchers at Emory University, glutathione levels vary over a 24-hour period, spiking about six hours after each meal and hitting their lowest point in the morning.

  • Age: Young, healthy people tend to have enough glutathione. Levels begin to decline at around age 45 and continue to do so until death.

  • Health conditions: Glutathione may be depleted by a variety of health conditions.

  • Diet: The best dietary sources of glutathione are freshly prepared meats and fresh fruits and vegetables (both raw and cooked). Most processed foods have little to no glutathione.

  • Glutathione antagonists: Some foods, such as cereals, bread and dairy products, act as antagonists. Common beverages like tea and coffee also contain glutathione-destroying compounds, although in lower concentrations.

  • Lifestyle factors: Cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol intake cause an increase in free radical production, depleting glutathione levels.

  • Medications: Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs can lower glutathione levels.

  • Weight: People who are overweight tend to have lower glutathione levels than those within the normal weight range; excess fat is correlated with oxidative (free radical-induced) stress.

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Ways to increase glutathione levels
  • Moderate, prolonged physical exercise increases levels of glutathione in the blood and skeletal muscles. Additionally, some vitamins and nutritional supplements act as glutathione boosters, including lipoic acid, pine bark extract, melatonin, bilberry, grape seed extract, vitamin C, whey protein (contains 3 key amino acid glutathione building blocks (glycine, glutamate, cysteine), sulforaphane and  

  • The very best way to ensure adequate glutathione levels is to take a the pre-formed glutathione supplement.

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    WHY IS GLUTATHIONE IMPORTANT?

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    Setria® Masterclass

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    The 'Master' Detoxifier
    Glutathione supports the function of your liver, kidneys, GI tract and intestines = your body’s major detoxification pathways.
      Glutathione helps in two main ways:
      1. It intercepts and neutralises toxins in the digestive tract before they are even absorbed.

      2. It helps eliminate toxins, ingested chemicals, and potential carcinogens that the body has already absorbed.

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      Immune System Shield
      • Glutathione plays an essential role in supporting immune health and helps protect cells from the damaging effects of oxidative stress and toxins.

      • While our bodies make glutathione, levels can become depleted through poor lifestyle choices and even through the natural ageing process.

      • A strong immune system is critical for good health.

      • Support it with good habits like eating right, regular exercise, and by taking Setria®, the first glutathione clinically studied to raise levels in the body.1*

      1) A randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. J.P. Richie. Published in the European Journal of Nutrition, May 2014.

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      How does Glutathione fortify your immune system?

      Glutathione helps fortify your immune system in two important ways:

      1. It plays a central role in the proper function of T-cell lymphocytes (white blood cells), the frontline soldiers of the immune system, by increasing their numbers.

      2. There is evidence that glutathione stimulates the production and activity of natural killer (NK) cells.

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      Skin Brightening
      • It has been reported that glutathione reduces melanin production by suppressing the activity of tyrosinase and switching the eumelanin synthesis to pheomelanin synthesis.

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      Where does glutathione come from?
      • Some Glutathione is produced internally, while some is provided by the diet.

      • Your body produces its own glutathione. To do this efficiently, it needs enough specific building blocks, and all your glutathione genes present and correctly spelt.

      • Because of the body’s ability to make glutathione, it is not considered an “essential” nutrient – but under some conditions, we need more glutathione than the body can produce.

      • Levels of glutathione can be depleted by poor diet, pollution, toxins, stress, ageing and infection.

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Factors that can affect your glutathione levels
      • Time of day: According to researchers at Emory University, glutathione levels vary over a 24-hour period, spiking about six hours after each meal and hitting their lowest point in the morning.

      • Age: Young, healthy people tend to have enough glutathione. Levels begin to decline at around age 45, and continue to do so until death.

      • Health conditions: Glutathione may be depleted by a variety of health conditions.

      • Diet: The best dietary sources of glutathione are freshly prepared meats and fresh fruits and vegetables (both raw and cooked). Most processed foods have little to no glutathione.

      • Glutathione antagonists: Some foods, such as cereals, bread and dairy products, act as antagonists. Common beverages like tea and coffee also contain glutathione-destroying compounds, although in lower concentrations.

      • Lifestyle factors: Cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol intake cause an increase in free radical production, depleting glutathione levels.

      • Medications: Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs can lower glutathione levels.

      • Weight: People who are overweight tend to have lower glutathione levels than those within the normal weight range; excess fat is correlated with oxidative (free radical-induced) stress.

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Ways to increase glutathione levels
      • Moderate, prolonged physical exercise increases levels of glutathione in the blood and skeletal muscles. Additionally, some vitamins and nutritional supplements act as glutathione boosters, including lipoic acid, pine bark extract, melatonin, bilberry, grape seed extract, vitamin C, whey protein (contains 3 key amino acid glutathione building blocks (glycine, glutamate, cysteine), sulforaphane and  

      • The very best way to ensure adequate glutathione levels is to take a the pre-formed glutathione supplement.

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