Increase Glutathione Levels Naturally!
Glutathione is among the most potent and important antioxidants of the human body. Just like other naturally found antioxidants, glutathione is helpful in reducing oxidative stress. It performs by combining with and fighting the free radicals available in the body. Unlike the other antioxidants that are easily found in different food items, glutathione is generated in your system internally. The main composition of glutathione comprises glycine, cysteine, and glutamine. In spite of being produced by your body, there are several causes that may lead to a reduction in the levels of this antioxidant. The main causes behind this are a chronic disease, infection, poor diet, and constant stress. In some cases, the levels of glutathione may start reducing with age.
Through this article, we aim to discuss the different naturally found sources of glutathione. We will also help you know more about the sources and benefits of glutathione and why you should be taking good care of its levels in your body.
Natural Means of Maintaining Glutathione Levels
It is very important to maintain the appropriate levels of glutathione to keep yourself fit and healthy. These days, you can get access to different types of natural substances, supplements, pills, and patches to maintain this antioxidant’s levels appropriately. The benefits of doing so are aplenty. Earl Hailey from PatchMD.com says that having proper glutathione levels can decrease your chances of getting diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s. Fortunately, you can balance the levels of glutathione in your body by resorting to different means and methods, some of which are mentioned below.
1. Sulfur-rich food ingredients are a good source of glutathione
Sulfur, a type of mineral, is found naturally in certain protein foods and plants. This vital ingredient is required for the normal activities and structuring of essential enzymes and proteins in the body. Most importantly, sulfur forms an essential component of the synthesis process of glutathione. Given this, you may want to include sulfur-rich food in your diet at the earliest. These include beef, fish, poultry and cruciferous vegetables of the likes of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, mustard greens, and watercress. The other natural sources of sulfur-containing compounds include garlic, shallots, onions, and other allium vegetables – they are all responsible for boosting your glutathione levels.
2. Vitamin C is important!
Vitamin C is found in several vegetables and fruits and has the potential to give a spurt to the glutathione present in your blood. This water-soluble vitamin can be sourced from citrus fruits, papayas, strawberries, kiwis, bell peppers, and a variety of other vitamins C rich food substances. Vitamin C has many different roles to play in the normal functioning of your metabolic system. Along with serving as a potent antioxidant for saving your cells from oxidative damage, it increases the glutathione levels by taking care of the free radicals, thus leaving glutathione safe. It also goes a long way in reprocessing glutathione by transforming oxidized glutathione to its original active form. As vitamin c cannot be done without and has a very important role to play in maintaining your glutathione levels, you may want to add the same in your regular diet without any further delay.
3. Glutathione patches to support its level
If you are desirous of attaining optimal liver health then it’s recommended that you take all necessary steps to detoxify the damaging free radicals. This, in turn, will influence your immune system functions and increase the energy produced in the cells. Glutathione patches are very helpful in taking care of the toxins present in the vital organs of your body, such as the liver. These patches encourage cellular repairs as they have all the necessary ingredients for supporting glutathione production. As per health care experts, there are very few such products that comprise of the same mix of ingredients to present you with the desired benefits. Resultantly, you may want to try out glutathione patches to attain vital nutrients through the layers of your skin in the most effective manner. The main benefits of using them are:
- Support for detoxification
- Assistance for optimal liver health
- Support for a healthy and better immune system
4. Selenium-Rich items aid the natural production of glutathione
Next, you may want to include selenium, which happens to be a glutathione cofactor and essential mineral in your diet via naturally found substances. Among the most popular and noteworthy sources of selenium are organ meats, cottage cheese, beef, chicken, fish, brown rice, Brazil nuts, and so forth. In order to balance out the supply of glutathione in your body, you may want to include various selenium-rich food sources in your diet.
5. Eat food items having natural glutathione
Though the production of glutathione takes place within your body, there may be a requirement to supplement its level through your dietary intake. There are several good sources of glutathione rich food that you may want to check out for this cause. These sources include and are not restricted to avocados, asparagus, spinach, and okra. These are among the commonly found and most potent sources of natural glutathione. Remember, dietary glutathione takes time to get absorbed by the human body and may not show optimal results straight away. More so, the ways in which you store and cook these food sources influence the amount of glutathione that remains for consumption. Despite having a negligible impact on the increase of glutathione levels, the foods rich in glutathione are very functional in decreasing oxidative stress.
Way Forward
The different ways of reducing oxidative stress and balancing glutathione levels, according to the means given above, will help you multifold. You may also consider the use of whey protein, milk thistle, turmeric extract, and other suggested food sources to get the results you seek. Additionally, you may want to get in touch with your preferred nutritionist or health care expert to know more about what to eat or avoid to increase the levels of glutathione in your body. With their help, you can also reduce oxidative stress to a large extent and look forward to leading a healthier life.