Tag: Antioxidant

All You Need To Know About Glutathione

Since 1889, Glutathione (GSH) has been known to medical scientists everywhere as a master antioxidant. You can find it in virtually all your body’s cells without exception. If the body was like a country, GSH would be a prime minister of both health and defense!

It plays a strong role in governing our immune systems, manufacturing genes and proteins, and without it, the body would struggle to detox anything.

Having low levels of GSH in your body correlates directly to aging, as well as many chronic conditions like cancer, AIDS, arthritis, sleep disorders, neurological disorders and auto-immune diseases.

 

7 Health Benefits Of Glutathione

Here are 7 quick anti-aging benefits of Glutathione to give you a good idea of why you need it!

Protects Against Oxidative Stress

Glutathione rapidly reduces free radicals in the body, which helps to protect against all forms of disease and organ damage.

Helps To Fights Cancer

Glutathione protects all our cells as well as our DNA from the effects of free radicals, which promotes cancer growth. GSH also binds to carcinogens and many other toxins, rendering them harmless until they can be removed!

Moreover, GSH repairs our DNA and helps to produce more of it. This aids in preventing cancer by making sure the genes don’t mutate and express cancer cell lines.

Strengthens Your Immune System

GSH regulates cell replication, including immune cells like lymphocytes. Glutathione deficiency is also linked to immune impairment, as is found in many chronic illnesses.

Regenerates Tissues

Glutathione actually regenerates tissue wherever there is damage. That means it protects all your organs, including your heart, your brain, your guts – everything!

It is found in particularly high quantities in the liver, which uses it to create Glutathione Peroxidase and to flush out toxins.

Protects Against UV Radiation

This potent compound proved to be highly effective at protecting against all forms of UV radiation. In combination with GSH’s tissue repair properties, it also maintains gorgeously radiant skin!

Prevents Bacterial Growth

High levels of this stuff in your body creates an environment that bacteria do not like. GSH is involved in making sure your mitochondria function optimally too, which in turn increases your body’s available oxygen supply. Most bacteria hate oxygen!

Delays Rapid Aging

Each year that we age, we lose GSH. Many researchers believe that one can predict lifespan judging from the amount of GSH we have left in our systems.

In the bodies of those that lived over 100 years old, much higher GSH levels were discovered. This makes sense, seeing as GSH is actively involved in processes related to cell longevity and lifespan.

How to Boost GSH Levels In The Body

If you fancy a quick tongue twister, the scientific name for GSH is L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine!

This tedious name actually highlights the three amino acids GSH is made from: Glutamic Acid, Cysteine and Glycine. Increasing these amino acids in your diet will help you to improve upon your Glutathione levels.

Unfortunately, the liver greedily uses up all dietary GSH as soon as it comes into contact with it. This is why it is better to encourage the body to make it’s own GSH by eating foods rich in the above building blocks.

Foods that boost GSH include:

  • Chia Seeds
  • Milk Thistle
  • Cruciferous Vegetables
  • Whey Protein
  • Beef Liver
  • Sprouts
  • Wild Rice

Supplementing on the nutrients Vitamin E, C, Selenium, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid and B Vitamins will help to conserve GSH levels in the body. NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) is a readily available supplement that breaks down into cysteine, creating as well as preserving GSH levels.

Green Tea: Antioxidant Powerhouse in a Cup

Green tea may be the closest thing to a magic potion that you can get. Its polyphenols and nutrients help to protect our heart, lower stress levels and cleanse our body of toxins. What’s more, it can also be the missing link to help you get the flawless skin you so crave. Here are just a few of the reported benefits of drinking tea for your skin.

Improves skin complexion

By flushing out toxins in your body, green tea not only benefits your internal organs but your skin too. Toxins in your skin can cause the cells to malfunction and even die, leading to a loss of elasticity, blemishes and even wrinkles. By ridding your skin of toxins and harmful chemicals, green tea keeps your skin cells functioning correctly and looking their best.

Sun protection

The polyphenols in green tea are powerful antioxidants that help to undo the damage caused by free radicals, harmful chemicals created by sun exposure. According to one study, just two cups of green tea a day is enough to reduce the inflammation and redness caused by sun exposure.

Reduce puffy eyes

We all experience tired, puffy looking eyes when we haven’t been getting enough sleep. And if you’re as busy as me, getting in an afternoon power nap is out of the question. Instead, place green tea bags that have been soaked in cool water over your eyes for five minutes. The polyphenols and tannins found in green tea shrink the blood vessels in the area, reducing the inflammation and swelling.

Treats acne

As with the remedy for puffy eyes, it’s not just through drinking green tea we can get its benefits, but applying it topically to our skin can also reduce the appearance of acne and blackheads too. Green tea’s antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties all come together synergistically, with studies reporting an over 50% reduction in the appearance of acne and pimples after topical application.

Green tea has also shown benefits as an exfoliator and for hair growth. So what are you waiting for, get down to your nearest health food store and pick some up today!