WHAT IS GLUTATHIONE?

Glutathione is a very straightforward molecule that is produced naturally all the time in your body. It is a combination of three simple building blocks of protein or amino acids — cysteine, glycine and glutamine.

The secret of its power is the sulfur (SH) chemical groups it contains. Sulfur is a sticky, smelly molecule. It acts like fly paper and all the bad things in the body stick onto it, including free radicals and toxins like mercury and other heavy metals.

Normally glutathione is recycled in the body — except when the toxic load becomes too great.

In my practice, I test the genes involved in glutathione metabolism. These are the genes involved in producing enzymes that allow the body to create and recycle glutathione in the body. These genes have many names, such as GSTM1, GSTP1 and more.

These genes are impaired in some people for a variety of important reasons. We humans evolved in a time before the 80,000 toxic industrial chemicals found in our environment today were introduced into our world, before electromagnetic radiation was everywhere and before we polluted our skies, lakes, rivers, oceans and teeth with mercury and lead.

That is why most people survived with the basic version of the genetic detoxification software encoded in our DNA, which is mediocre at ridding the body of toxins. At the time humans evolved we just didn’t need more. Who knew we would be poisoning ourselves and eating a processed, nutrient-depleted diet thousands of years later?

Because most of us didn’t require additional detoxification software, “almost half of the population now has a limited
capacity to get rid of toxins. These people are missing GSTM1 function — one of the most important genes needed in the process of creating and recycling glutathione in the body.

Nearly all my very sick patients are missing this function. The one-third of our population that suffers from chronic disease is missing this essential gene. That includes me. Twenty years ago, I experienced mercury poisoning which resulted in chronic fatigue syndrome. My GSTM1 function was inadequate and I didn’t produce enough glutathione as a result. Eventually, my body broke down and I became extremely ill …

This is the same problem I see in so many of my patients. They are missing this critical gene and they descend into disease as a result. Let me explain how this happens.

GLUTATHIONE IN PROTECTING US

Glutathione is critical for one simple reason: It recycles antioxidants. You see, dealing with free radicals is like handing off a hot potato. They get passed around from vitamin C to vitamin E to lipoic acid and then finally to glutathione which cools off the free radicals and recycles other antioxidants. After this happens, the body can “reduce” or regenerate another protective glutathione molecule and we are back in business.

However, problems occur when we are overwhelmed with too much oxidative stress or too many toxins.

Glutathione is also the most critical and integral part of your detoxification system. All the toxins stick onto glutathione, which then carries them into the bile and the stool — and out of your body.

And lastly, it also helps us reach peak mental and physical function. Research has shown that raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance and shift metabolism from fat production to muscle development.

If you are sick or old or are just not in peak shape, you likely have glutathione deficiency.

In fact, the top British medical journal, the Lancet, found the highest glutathione levels in healthy young people, lower levels in healthy elderly, lower still in sick elderly and the lowest of all in the hospitalized elderly. (ii)

Keeping yourself healthy, boosting your performance, preventing disease and aging well depends on keeping your glutathione levels high.

It is critical for immune function and controlling inflammation. It is the master detoxifier and the body’s main antioxidant, protecting our cells and making our energy metabolism run well.

And the good news is that you can do many things to increase this natural and critical molecule in your body. You can eat glutathione-boosting foods. You can exercise. And you can take glutathione-boosting supplements.

Studies Show Glutathione can Support with Health Challenges:

  • Acetaminophen Toxicity
  • ALS
  • Alzheimer’s
  • ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
  • Chronic Fatigue
  • COPD
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Diabetes
  • Heavy Metal Toxicity
  • HIV
  • Huntington’s Disease
  • Lyme Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Stroke

WHAT IS GLUTAGENESIS

GlutaGenesis is the term used when regeneration occurs within a Glutathione Rich environment. This can happen in your brain, muscles, nerves, joints, and even organs. As we age our body produces less and less Glutathione. This “Master Antioxidant” is a leading cause of cellular damage or “Oxidative Stress”. This oxidative stress is like rust happening inside your body. This means damage and degeneration. Once high or even normal Glutathione levels are achieved then inflammation and improved wellbeing can be achieved. This inflammation and degeneration is the leading cause of aging in our body. That suggests by increasing our Antioxidants we can slow or even reverse aging at a cellular level. GlutaGenesis using Glutagenic products makes sense when we understand how powerful it is.

WHAT ABOUT ORAL GLUTATHIONE SUPPLEMENTS?

Most glutathione supplements are virtually ineffective, since glutathione is a protein and is digested in the stomach before reaching the blood stream or tissues of the body. Researchers found that 3 grams of glutathione taken traditionally made oral delivery were ineffective in increasing circulating glutathione (glutathione in the bloodstream) in a clinical study evaluating the benefits of oral glutathione. Witschi A, Reddy S, Stofer B, Lauterburg BH. The Systemic Availability of Oral Glutathione. (Source: Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1992;43(6):667-9). IV Glutathione is effective but expensive, uncomfortable, and somewhat impractical requiring infusions 2 times per week using an Intravenous (IV) line.