Glutathione Detox: The Science of Glutathione and Alcohol – Thomas DeLauer…
Your body can have its own glutathione detox! Glutathione and Alcohol is a huge question, how does it actually work? More at [ Ссылка ]
What is Glutathione? Glutathione (GSH) is a peptide made up of three amino acids - glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine. GSH is produced by every cell in our bodies. It is an antioxidant that works within cells. Aerobic cells in our body require oxygen. During the cellular processes that occur, ROS (reactive oxygen species) occur. When cells are injured even more ROS will be produced. ROS are not always bad. They are necessary for cell survival, but when there are too many produced it can lead to cell damage and death. When the levels of ROS raise, our bodies work to balance this out and regain homeostasis through the production of antioxidants, such as GSH.
GSH:
-Protects against oxidative damage and environmental toxins
-Disposes peroxides (natural bleaching agents that cause harm in the body)
-Participates in metabolic processes
-Maintains intracellular health
-Boosts immune system
Due to its properties, GSH:
-Protects brain health
-Protects liver and other organs from damage
-May protect against many other diseases due to cell damage, including Alzheimer’s, cancers and AIDs
It has been found that most patients in the hospitals for conditions such as cancer and AIDs have depleted GSH levels. So what are the ways that we understand presently that GSH benefits our health?
Brain Health: The cells of the brain make up 2% of our body weight while consuming 20% of the oxygen used in the body. The makes brain cells particularly at risk to oxidative damage. GSH is important in the detoxification processes of reactive oxygen species in the brain. Under normal conditions GSH synthesis is determined by cysteine availability and the activity of an enzyme called GCL (glutamate-cysteine ligase). Cysteine comes from the diet, protein breakdown and the liver. The amount of GSH present in the brain is dependent upon how much of the precursors are present. Different kinds of brain cells require different precursors.
Liver: Helps the liver remove chemicals, such as drugs and environmental toxins. Glutathione is produced by the liver in response to alcohol consumption. When alcohol comes into contact with enzymes in your mouth, Acetaldehyde forms. Acetaldehyde is extremely toxic. When the remainder of the alcohol reaches your liver, it is processed into Acetaldehyde and your liver produces glutathione, which attacks the acetaldehyde to form a non-toxic substance similar to vinegar.
Cancer: Oxidative stress can lead to cancer, and GSH can help protect against oxidative stress. This is how GSH can help to protect your body from cancer. There is an instance where medical professionals may desire to reduce the GSH in your cells, and that is when fighting cancer cells with chemotherapy. High GSH levels in tumor cells can make them difficult to fight. There is other evidence that GSH supplementation may help to reduce chemotherapy side effects and thus make it more effective, so this is currently under debate.
How to Get Enough GSH: While studies have shown that elevated GSH levels can benefit health, exactly how to boost these levels is still debated. Supplements have not been proven to be an effective way to boost cellular GSH. Intravenous GSH was shown in one study to boost the survival rates and decrease the side effects from chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer. It is likely that taking precursor supplements of cysteine may boost GSH levels. A balanced diet is the key to healthy GSH levels - fresh fruits, veggies and meats.
2 supplements that help boost GSH levels are:
-Milk thistle
-Whey protein
References:
1. Metabolism and functions of glutathione in the brain
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2. Role of glutathione in cancer progression and chemoresistance
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3. Glutathione: new supplement on the block
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4. Protective effects of silymarin, a milk thistle…
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5. Oral supplementation with whey protein increases plasma glutathione…
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6. Glutathione and sulphur amino acids in health and human disease
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