By Dr. Holly
Anyone who knows me, knows how big I am on glutathione. Glutathione is one of the most important compounds in the body. At the end I will provide you with a short list of what glutathione does in the body…but the point of this article is to understand that you need a number of other functions functioning at a cellular level before you can make glutathione. You have probably heard that simply taking glutathione in supplement or food form isn’t sufficient – it is too big to cross the cellular membrane.
But you need more than the DNA functioning effectively to make glutathione – you also need the Methylation Cycle,(the methionine cycle, the folate cycle, the biopterin cycle and the urea cycle) and the mitochondrial functioning in order to regulate and make the glutathione that your body requires. In fact, for most long term healing of any kind, all of these functions need to be functioning effectively AND not just in you but also in your microbiota!!!
Here is a short list of what glutathione does in your body:
Master Anti-oxidant
• Endogenous – made inside of the cell
• Re-stabilizes itself and all other anti-oxidants
• Deals with all 6 categories of free radicals
• Works inside cell; in cell membrane; and outside of cell
Detoxification
• Major component of Phase II in liver detox
• Major component of all cellular detoxification
Inflammation
• Major component of healthy inflammation
resolution
Hormone regulation
• Involved either directly or indirectly with all hormones in the body
Cellular Energy
• Cellular energy is provided by the ATP; created by the mitochondria – GSH is the only known molecule that protects the
mitochondria
Prostaglandin synthesis (vasodilation/constriction
NO (nitric oxide) regulation: hormones, vasodilation, immune system,
DNA
– Protects DNA from going sideways; involved in both or
elimination of abnormal DNA
– also required in protein synthesis
Cellular transport
• Required for most amino acid transportation in the cells
• Anti-aging
• Involved , like other anti-oxidants in preventing teleomere breakdown but also the only known molecule that can provoke teleomere creation
• Calcium movement
• Required for regulation of Ca movement (gating of cardio cell function)
• Respiratory
• 40% required in RBC to both pick up/release both O2 & CO2
• Immune System
– Lymphocytes, ie., T cells, B cells, macrophages, TNF, NK, etc, all require about 62% to both develop and function
What destroys glutathione?
• Age
• Pollution
• Genetic abnormalities
• Stress
• Overuse
• Infections
• Injuries
• Radiation
• Poor diet
• Too much sun
• Lack of hydration
• Exercising past a sweat
• Poor sleeping habits
• Pesticides and certain food additives
• Drugs (alcohol, tobacco, legal and illegal drugs)
Here’s to your health!
For more information, contact: Dr Holly at holly@choicesunlimited.ca
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