What is Glutathione and Why is it Beneficial?

Glutathione, also known as GSH, is a potent antioxidant that is naturally occurring in your body, and helps fight free radicals. Antioxidants, like this one are critical for our bodies, as they help keep things in balance. It has recently become popular for its health benefits, and there are many miracle claims going around the internet, that say Glutathione has anti-aging effects, or can even be used for cancer prevention. Let’s uncover the facts about this powerful antioxidant, and why you should be taking it.

Glutathione is made of three types of amino acids, L-cysteine, glycine, and L-glutamate, and has many important functions in the body. While it is naturally produced by the liver and nerve cells in the central nervous system, some doctors recommend taking glutathione supplements to help treat and variety of health conditions.

What is Glutathione used for?

Not only is Glutathione used to help slow down the aging process, prevent cancer, and preserve memory, but it is also used as a supplement to help improve the various diseases and conditions including:

• Antioxidant defense
• Reduces oxidative stress
• Reduces cell damage
• Fights against autoimmune disease
• Helps reduce respiratory disease symptoms
• Reduces symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
• Lyme disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• High cholesterol

The Science Behind Glutathione

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

Dr. Eric Berg explains what glutathione is in this video, it’s benefits, how it can get depleted and the best sources to find it. He explains how Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants in your body. You can get it from your diet and you also produce it in your body. While it can get depleted over time by various conditions in your body and environment, Dr. Eric Berg shares his recommendations as to what you should be looking for to add more glutathione into your diet.

Sources of Glutathione:

Source: Dr. Eric Berg DC

• Sulfur-rich foods: Many vegetables, including garlic, shallots, and onions are high in sulfur compounds that could possibly help increase glutathione production in. the body.
• Vitamin C: This helps your body maintain glutathione levels by attacking free radicals in the body. Citrus fruits such as kiwis, strawberries, papayas, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, and bell peppers are all great sources of Vitamin C.
• Selenium: One Brazil nut a day can provides an entire day’s worth of selenium. Beans, sunflower seeds, brown rice, mushrooms, fish, oatmeal, and spinach, are all good sources of selenium as well.
• Herbs: Milk thistle and turmeric have powerful antioxidant activity and can help your body naturally produce glutathione.
• Fasting: This has been shown to increase the network of antioxidants in the body!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects. 

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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