Spotlight on Glutathione's Role in Detoxification

In a world that’s becoming increasingly dangerous, it has never been more important to support your body’s detoxification pathways. Your organs, particularly your liver, kidneys, and colon, are facing higher levels of hazardous substances than ever before in history, and may need a bit of external support, to keep up with the onslaught.

Because we’re exposed to thousands of different chemicals, bacterial/viral/fungal residues, GMOs, and EMFs every day, having the best detox supplements can go a long way. While some people can detoxify easily, many people are showing symptoms of toxic buildup, and can benefit from a natural, herbal detox aid.

Toxic Overload

Modern toxins come in so many different flavors, that the symptoms from poor detoxification can look different for everyone. Often, the symptoms start slowly and build over time, and they can be subtle for many months or even years. It’s easy to overlook the warning signs that your liver is overloaded, or your cellular efficiency is struggling. Things like fatigue, headaches, mood swings, increased skin irritation, and indigestion are just a few common symptoms that could point to a detox issue.

Thankfully, our bodies are naturally powerful and intelligent, when it comes to getting rid of toxins. We have many overlapping detox pathways and mechanisms, working hard for us 24/7, shuttling out hazardous substances. Some of these pathways are overseen by a molecule called glutathione, also known as our “master antioxidant.”

Why We Love Glutathione

You may have heard about glutathione, as it is becoming more popular to receive glutathione IVs or take glutathione supplements. Anyone who wants to support their body’s natural detox should consider supplementation, to reap all the wonderful glutathione benefits.

Glutathione is your body’s second-most abundant molecule, just behind water, and is one of the only antioxidants that your body makes on its own. These facts point to just how important glutathione is to our health!

It is made up of three amino acids- glycine, cysteine, and glutamate- and is present in every cell, with a particular concentration in the liver. Any time you research liver detox, glutathione is the key player, especially in phase II detox where glutathione binds to toxins to prepare them for removal from the body.

What You Need To Know

In order for glutathione to do its job properly, there needs to be enough glutathione in general, but also the presence and functioning of enzymes, called glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs). These enzymes are what help the glutathione bind to the toxins (chemicals, excess hormones, environmental pollutants, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, etc), and make them water-soluble for easy excretion.

This is a crucial process in the body, that is functioning at every moment, to keep us alive! Depletion of glutathione has been implicated in many disease processes, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, and cancer. 

While glutathione is produced naturally by the body, there are many factors that can affect its production and functioning. A few things that deplete levels of glutathione include:

• Aging
• Unmanaged stress
• Alcohol consumption
• Poor diet
• Excessive environmental toxins
• Chronic infections
• Overuse of antibiotics or other harsh prescription drugs
• Intense exercise

Most of us that live in the modern world could use a little glutathione boost, but this is especially true if you are dealing with conditions like chronic fatigue or burnout, or you live/work in an area that is polluted or otherwise hazardous. 

In order to support your detox system and keep your liver healthy, there are a few things that you can do. And it’s important to do as many of these as possible, to hit from all angles! 

Increase consumption of glutathione-boosting foods

There are a handful of foods that appear to naturally boost the production of GSTs (those essential enzymes we talked about), thanks to their high sulfur content. This sulfur, in the form of sulforaphane, is a main inducer of GST enzyme activity. Foods in the cruciferous and sulfurous families are best: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, mustard greens, dandelion greens, onions, garlic, and cabbage. Eat these in plentiful amounts, as part of a balanced diet, to take advantage of those glutathione benefits!

Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C 

In addition to your daily sulfur-rich veggies, try to eat more vitamin C-rich foods too. Researchers suggest that when the body has plenty of vitamin C (another powerful antioxidant), it will spare your body’s stores of glutathione. When you’re facing a toxin, the vitamin C will volunteer to go first, to neutralize the oxidative stress, allowing your glutathione to handle bigger jobs. Vitamin C is found in significant amounts in most fruits, especially citrus, berries, kiwis, and bell peppers. 

Cut back on the drugs and alcohol

Because glutathione is the master controller of liver detox, easing some of the burden on your liver is a great way to keep glutathione levels higher. Two of the hardest things for the liver to process and release are man-made drugs and alcohol. This includes over-the-counter medications, pharmaceutical drugs, and synthetic recreational drugs.

If you drink regularly, try cutting back to ½ or ¼ of your usual amount, or go dry for a while to see how you feel. And while we never recommend stopping any medication without talking to your doctor, it’s never a bad idea to find herbs or natural alternatives, so you can lessen your reliance on medication.

Get enough good quality sleep

You hear it all the time because it’s just that important. Sleep is the vital window when your body is able to repair and replenish, especially when it comes to your glutathione levels. Chronic sleep deprivation is a serious issue on many levels, but researchers are now suggesting that it’s due to an overall buildup of toxins in the brain/nervous system, cardiovascular system, and other cells.

If you want to keep your mind sharp, your energy levels high, and your body resilient in the face of threat, sleep should be a top priority. 

Invest in a good detox supplement

There are many products out there that claim to aid with detox, so it’s important to do your research and choose one that will actually be effective. Taking glutathione itself isn’t all that useful, since it’s broken down during digestion.

Instead, take herbs and vitamins that work with your body, to boost glutathione production. Our Herbathione is an alcohol-free herbal extract that supports liver detox and glutathione in a safe, gentle way. It includes the following organically-grown herbs:

• Ashwagandha root
• Burdock root
• Astragalus Root
• Fennel Seed
• Ginko Leaf
• Gotu Kola Leaf
• Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf
• Milk Thistle Seed
• Sarsaparilla Root
• Schisandra Fruit

Glutathione is your brain and body’s best friend and vital ally in the fight against the modern lifestyle. If you want to slow the aging process, have a clearer mind, and boost your detoxification abilities, grab yourself some Herbathione, and make a few other tweaks in your routine. Your liver will thank you, and you’ll get the priceless peace of mind that you deserve.