The Antioxidant You Need and Already Have

Want to boost immunity? Burn more fat? Lower you risk for disease? Look younger? Feel younger? There is an antioxidant capable of all of the above, and more! And guess what? Your body is already making it! So the real question is, how do we make more?

IT’S CALLED GLUTATHIONE

Never heard of it? Soon enough, everyone and their grandma will know what glutathione is. This antioxidant is produced by your body for the primary function of fighting oxidative stress. What exactly is oxidative stress? Great question!

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants within your body. A free radical is an oxygen containing molecule with an uneven number of electrons. Having an uneven number of electrons is what allows free radicals to react with other molecules. You can think of oxidative stress as rusting inside of your body. This rusting can cause damage to our DNA and is what leads to some of the most devastating diseases.

So, if we really want to be at our best, this idea of reducing oxidative stress is a two-layered approach: reducing free radicals and increasing antioxidants (namely glutathione).

REDUCING FREE RADICALS

It isn’t realistic to think we can eliminate free radicals from our lives. They are inevitable, but we can take measures to reduce our exposure to the following…

  • unhealthy oils (corn oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, canola oil)
  • processed foods
  • sugar
  • pesticides
  • tap water (use a simple water filter)
  • commercial cleaning products (use natural products!)
  • heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium)
  • pollution (use air purifiers inside your home!)
  • radiation (x-rays, air travel (sad, I know))
  • tobacco smoke

INCREASING GLUTATHIONE

The most obvious way to increase glutathione is just to take it as a supplement. The problem: oral glutathione supplements are not entirely effective. Here is the best one. The compound get destroyed in the gut and little ever makes it to the bloodstream. If you want a glutathione supplement that works, you would need to receive IV glutathione. However, it can be expensive and take a long time to be administered.

If you are looking for a simpler way to support your body’s production of this master antioxidant, here are my top 3 recommendations:

  1. Supplement Glycine and N-Acetyl Cysteine.
    • Glutathione is made up of 3 amino acids: glycine, l-cysteine, and l-glutamate. I love to get my glycine from bone broth protein. I usually put a scoop in my smoothie each day, and will often use pre-made bone broths to cook with dinner. I give my body a boost of l-cysteine by supplementing daily with N-acetylcysteine. I get my l-glutamate from eating high-quality lean meats. If you are on a vegan or vegetarian diet, you may want to consider supplementing with l-glutamine.
  2. Eat Sulfur Rich Foods
    • Glutathione contains sulfur and eating sulfur rich foods can boost your body’s natural production. Sulfur rich foods include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, boy chow, collard greens, chard, onions, garlic, eggs, and nuts. Bonus tip: drink San Pelligrino!
  3. Reduce Stress Levels
    • You’ve heard me harp on stress before. This won’t be the last time I mention it. Slow down. Reduce your commitments. Prioritize sleep. Exercise. Don’t over-exercise. Practice gratitude. Take a moment each day to go to your “nothing box” (aka meditation). Find community. Laugh.

As always, consult with your physician before adding any new supplements to your regimen. But you can begin boosting glutathione production today by reducing exposure to free radicals, eating sulfur rich foods, and reducing stress. If you want access to 20% off Thorne products like N-acetylcysteine and more, CLICK HERE and leave me a note.