The single most important antioxidant in your body, glutathione, goes by many names. Mother of all antioxidants. Master detoxifier. Unfortunately, it’s under attack, leaving you vulnerable to infections and diseases.
Why your body needs glutathione
Glutathione protects your tissues from aging, helps boost immunity, and protects you against oxidative stress.
The primary cause of oxidative stress is pollution – a major problem in Hong Kong. Oxidative stress strains all of your body’s systems and is a key factor in the development of many health conditions.
Glutathione removed around 50% of daily toxins. It’s not wonder people who live well past 100 years are proven to have exceptional levels of glutathione.
Research proves that elevating your glutathione levels supports peak mental and physical performance. Glutathione works to help the body maintain homeostasis, returning you to healthy function.
Physically, it helps decrease muscle damage and recovery time, increase strength and endurance, shift your metabolism from fat production to muscle development.
Low levels are correlated with stress, low mood, sleep issues, memory problems and more.
Glutathione insufficiency
Air pollution, heavy metals and stress deplete our bodies of glutathione. Low levels affect all body’s systems. Especially our immune system. In clinic, we have noted low levels of glutathione in nearly all clients with severe health conditions.
Symptoms of insufficient levels of glutathione include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle tension
- Confusion
- Delayed reaction time and speech
- Loss of co-ordination
- Pale or yellow skin
As well as being environmental, low levels of glutathione can be genetic. A DNA health test can help reveal your capacity to produce and recycle glutathione.
How to boost levels of glutathione
You can boost glutathione levels by eating foods rich in sulphur, which is required for the production of glutathione. Good sources include cruciferous vegetables – broccoli, kale, sprouts, and cauliflower; onions and garlic; beef, fish and poultry.
Vitamin C may help reduce oxidative stress, relieving the pressure from glutathione to mop up all free radicals.
Selenium is a cofactor for creating glutathione, supporting creation of the master antioxidant. Fish, beef, poultry, pulses, eggs, brown rice and more are rich in selenium.
Sufficient sleep and exercise can help you maintain, or boost glutathione levels.
Aside from dietary and lifestyle changes, you can use a nutritional supplement to increase your levels of glutathione.
You might choose a straight glutathione supplement, or formulas which provide cofactors to boost glutathione production: NAC, vitamin C, glutathione, lipoic acid.
In summary
Hong Kong living is tough on our bodies, and our stores of glutathione. Testing for low levels of glutathione can help define the root cause of many common symptoms like fatigue.
Low glutathione levels may be caused by pollution, but may also have a genetic factor, which we can test for.
Our naturopaths can support you in creating a diet that supports optimal glutathione levels. Supplements can provide extra nutritional support.
H R Andersen, Low activity of superoxide dismutase and high activity of glutathione reductase in erythrocytes from centenarians, 1998.
