Glutathione has recently become a cornerstone to improving health naturally.
You may already be aware that increasing the amount of glutathione your body produces each day is very beneficial to many of the natural systems that make and keep you HEALTHY.
Hopefully, you are also keenly aware that your personal level of glutathione directly affects your body’s ability to reduce and control chronic inflammation.
So, how does one increase personal glutathione production?
Can you just “take” glutathione?
That is a good question but despite what some dishonest supplement sellers would have you believe, you cannot eat glutathione, your body MUST make it inside the cells. The false claim that you can just eat glutathione, made by some supplement scoundrels, can be likened to saying that all you have to do to get smart is eat brain tissue supplements. (Now, I don’t suppose anyone would buy into this but you never know.)
So, really, you have 2 choices
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Take drugs (pharmaceuticals) that cause your body to increase its glutathione production.
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Take natural supplements that promote glutathione production inside your cells.
Our approach is always toward the natural route, but in case you were wondering, the pharmaceutical drugs that are shown to raise glutathione (GSH) levels are briefly listed at the bottom of this post. But first, here are 7 natural ways to increase glutathione production inside your cells.
7 Natural Glutathione Boosters
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L-Cysteine
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Since the amount of cysteine in our body determines how much glutathione your body can make, why not just eat cysteine as a supplement? Well, you can, but research shows there would be negligible benefits and potential risks. Cysteine taken as a dietary supplement can promote hypercysteinemia and potential toxicity.
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L-Methionine
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Methionine is indeed a precursor of glutathione but the metabolic transformation of methionine into glutathione is a complex process which has the potential for “going astray”. For example, methionine is also a precursor of homocysteine, a risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
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Melatonin
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Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain and has many roles in the body, one being its ability to raise glutathione levels in certain tissues of the body, including brain, liver, and muscle tissue. The long term safety of products that promote melatonin production has not been established and should be used in consultation with appropriate health professionals.
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Glutamine
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Glutamine is an amino acid found in abundance in our body. It is tremendously beneficial to the body and is easily found in a healthy diet. Also, supplemental glutamine must be kept absolutely dry or it will degrade into ammonia, a toxin to the body. Due to its abundance in a healthy diet and the risks of storing it, glutamine is not an ideal supplement.
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Lipoic Acid (alpha-lipoic acid)
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Lipoic acid occurs naturally in the body but can also be taken as a supplement with effectiveness. This supplement works well in conjunction with healthy levels of glutathione but studies show that if taken by a person whose glutathione levels are too low, lipoic acid actually promotes oxidation.
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Silymarin (milk thistle)
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This herbal extract seems to stimulate the growth and regeneration of damaged liver cells but also has been shown to significantly increase glutathione production. However, some toxic reactions are noted by some, such as gas, cramps and diarrhea.
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Whey Proteins
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Fresh or “bioactive” milk whey contains potent glutathione precursors. Unfortunately, by the time milk reaches your table, it has been pasteurized and has lost its bioactivity, and its glutathione enhancing benefits. However, a neutraceutical is available which is essentially the whey proteins harvested from milk and kept in a bioactive or undenatured state. There are no known side effects associated with taking bioactive whey proteins and, since there is no lactose in whey proteins, lactose intolerant people are not adversely affected.
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Pharmaceuticals That Increase Glutathione Production
9 responses so far ↓
1 julian hapel // Dec 28, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Useful and concise; any data from clinical trials available re; enhancing glutathione production?
2 leo mark bautista // Jan 2, 2009 at 8:58 am
would have preferred to know what exactly are the natural foods we need to consider in our daily diet to increase production of glutathione.
thanks
3 M.O. // Jan 28, 2009 at 4:34 am
broccoli and excercise—————————————@leo mark bautista -
4 Dr. Bruce Rippee // Jan 28, 2009 at 4:13 pm
@julian hapel – Asparagus would be my first choice. Recent studies show that asparagus (from Washington) had twice the amount of glutathione per gram of any common edible plant. You might look up asparagus and cancer prevention on your search engine. Most of that claim is bunk but there is some new research on glutathione there.
5 ManHon Shiew // Mar 26, 2009 at 11:21 am
This is the most recent clinical study on olive juice extract ability to increase glutathione level in human.
The findings is published this month. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf8034429
Do contact me for more details if you are interested.
Thank you.
6 mike hunt // Apr 8, 2009 at 6:58 pm
soooo, wtf..every single way to increase glutathione involves potentially negative side effects??
i dont even understand the point of this article..
–”7 ways to increase glutathione..” loll
but every way is similar to the following example: “yes, this supplement is great and can in fact increase glutathione, however it can be toxic as well…”
uuhhhhh..what? wtf..nice article..
sooo, its like–what exactly SHOULD we take? besides being numbered, these 7 ways arent even clarified as to which is more/less effective..
bogus.
7 Rebecca // Jul 24, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I have read about the benefits of avocado to increase glutathione levels but am not sure about the amounts needed…
Another way is the Immunocal supplement which I have listed on my blog. Seems to be the safest and most natural method.
immunocal.com/immunityfirst for detailed info if interested
8 Tolbert Wyatt // Aug 18, 2009 at 8:20 pm
My name is Tolbert Earl Wyatt, age sixty-three, African American, and a US Army retired Veteran of the Vietnam War. In June of 2007, I was diagnosed as having prostate cancer by doctors at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I was told that my cancer was in the low risk category and I was referred to an Urologist at OU Medical Center.
After being examined by the Urologist, he recommended that I consider Brachy therapy (radiation seed implant) to rid my body of cancer. I chose not to take the Brachy therapy treatment offered because of all the side effects associated with radiation therapy.
Since, I am a Christian by faith, I prayed to God to help me make a decision as to what direction I should take. After much prayer and researching information about prostate cancer, a friend told me about Maxgxl; so, I did more research about Maxgxl, glutathione and prostate cancer. In which this helped me to decide to give Maxgxl a try and I’m glad I did, because I found out that Maxgxl provided other benefits I didn’t count on. I’ve been taking Maxgxl for almost two (2) years and I have experienced less pain and aches in my body. I have arthritis and a herniated disc in my lower back. Since I have been taking Maxgxl, my back and arthritis doesn’t bother me anymore. Before taking Maxgxl, while sleeping my lower back would pain so much I would have to get out of the bed and lay on the floor to find some relief.
Although, I’m 63, many family members and friends seem to find that difficult to believe. I have been told that I look to be in my early fifties. Since I have been taking Maxgxl, I feel more physically fit, plus I have a lot more energy and I don’t get tired as easy or feel all worn out.
I still see my VA doctor on a regular basis. She asked why I chose not to take radiation therapy for my prostate cancer…I explain to her that my reasons were because of the side effects of radiation therapy. I also told her that I was taking Maxgxl. She asked me to provide her with information about Maxgxl. I gave her a box of Maxgxl and she made a copy of the info on the outside of the box.
My doctor also monitored the results of my lab specimens and discovered that my prostate cancer was not spreading. She told me that I could keep taking the Maxgxl and also that I should continue checking my PSA level on a regular basis for any changes that may occur. Maxgxl has changed my life for the better and I would recommend it to everyone.
On July 13, 2009, I went back to the doctor for a re-examination of my prostate cancer. I received the results of my prostate examination on July 20, 2009 and the exam report stated that my cancer was in remission and my PSA level had drop from 6.4 to 6.1 on the Gleason Scale. Prayer works and Maxgxl works together! I can be reached at (580) 917-1771 for more information on my progress.
Sincerely,
Tolbert “Earl” Wyatt
(580) 917-1771
9 Tony // Feb 17, 2010 at 11:00 am
I have been informed many years ago that when Sodium Floride is taken internaly, such as through tap water that the floride will cake the pineal gland, could this be the reason for lower glutathione levels in the body
these flouride studies were done in Germany, and are often rebuked by mainstream media but they have been proven, I feel there is a purposeful reason for adding fouride to our water and its not to protect our teeth but to make us all much more manageable,
I am seeing this through my third eye.
(pineal gland) I have been avoiding Sodium flouride for years. Note: that natural forming “calcium floride” is not poisonous, but “sodium floride” is rat poisoning and the FDA allows very high intake levels even though it’s highly toxic, JUST A PERSONAL OBSERVATION
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