Glutathione Plays A Critical Role In Mental Healt
We can’t help but be a little obsessive about supplements when it comes to beautifying our physical appearance and solutions to aging (especially with the countless ads and trends on social media), but have you considered taking a daily dose for your brain’s health and wellness? Glutathione is a master antioxidant, that must be considered, to promote mood and stress resilience.
What is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a influential antioxidant, composed of cysteine, glutamine and glycine (3 amino acids), produced within your cells. It plays a central role in protecting and maintaining cellular health. Cysteine is your cells detoxifying power, Glutamine supports gut health/immune function/recovery and Glycine produces collagen, supports sleep and nervous system balance. These 3 amino acids link together to form Glutathione and therefore neutralize and protects cells from oxidative stress, aids the liver in detoxification, supports immune function, repairs/regenerates cells and your DNA within the cells, reduces chronic inflammation, and recycles other vital antioxidants.
Why is this important for mental health?
Low level glutathione and glutathione-related pathways have been linked to major neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, etc. This is because when neuronal inflammation and damage is high, pro-inflammatory neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and neuromodulators are released within the synapse, altering the regulation of Dopamine, Serotonin and GABA. This can also lead to brain damage and atrophy as oxidative stress affects the cells Mitochondria, DNA and protein production. Glutathione is therefore helpful in protecting the cells to produce the optimal chemicals to keep the internal and external environment of the cell stable.
What can you do to support the production of Glutathione?
Your body produces glutathione naturally, but levels can drop due to aging, stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, environmental toxins and illness.
1. Eat foods that contain the compound sulphur such as broccoli, kale, garlic, onions, eggs, etc. This is because sulphur is the key structural component of the amino acid cysteine and the primary limiting factor in its synthesis.
2. Move your body daily and ensure you are sleeping adequately at least 7 hours. Your brain detoxes while you sleep via the glymphatic system. Sleep deprivation leads to toxic buildup (neuroinflammation) and cognitive issues.
3. Reduce alcohol consumption as it impairs the detoxification process of every cell especially in the liver.
4. Increase whey protein intake. Whey contains the amino acid cysteine.
5. Support with supplement. Taking Glutathione will directly increase your levels. In addition taking a precursor such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC), will enhance the body’s ability to produce glutathione naturally.
Is a precursor more optimal than taking Glutathione directly?
A precursor, otherwise known as a nutraceutical, is an active compound/molecule that you take for your body to assimilate and convert into an active substance. Meaning, your body is able to take the raw compound/molecule and use it to produce a vitamin, hormone, neurotransmitter, etc. Ultimately a precursor activates your body’s natural intelligence to produce it, as opposed to relying and depending of the supplement to maintain balance.
I prefer to take the precursor, to invite my cells ability to produce glutathione naturally. In addition, it has been noted that direct oral glutathione has poor absorption, especially if your gut lining is inflamed. Liposomal delivery and IV drip have both been quantified best when glutathione is acutely needed, yet not for daily production and maintenance.
Remember, your body is intelligent. It can produce the precise chemicals necessary for cellular repair and regeneration, within the optimized environment. Know that taking a product outside of yourself, does signal your cells to become reliant, communicating to the cells they do not need to produce it. With that being said, you always hold a choice.
The current precursor we are taking to increase our levels naturally?
Immunocal®, is an all-natural protein with the highest biological value of any edible protein, and clinically proven to raise glutathione levels.* Glutathione enhances your immune system, is a key detoxification enzyme, provides cellular energy and acts as your body’s master antioxidant.
Immunotec has proudly been at the forefront of immune health and total wellness research for more than 45 years. Their products are widely considered the leading nutritional supplement for maintaining a healthier immune system. They hold more than 79 patents worldwide, third party testing and 90+ published studies, with the #1 Glutathione precursor on the market.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10366746/#sec6-clinpract-13-00070
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23688577/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8746815/