Gluta what?? Glutathione is often known as the Master Antioxidant and is found in every cell of the body. This molecule is naturally produced by the liver. Glutathione can also be found in plants, animals, fungi and some bacteria. Comprised of three amino acids; glutamine, glycine, and cysteine and high amounts of sulfur, this master antioxidant is known to do great things in the body!

What’s an “antioxidant”? Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to our cells, sometimes called Free Radicals. If the body becomes depleted in glutathione, it can struggle to remove and detox these waste substances (free radicals), causing oxidative stress to occur. Oxidative stress has been linked to stroke, arthritis, heart attack, cancer, autism and Parkinson’s Disease. Internal and external factors contribute to oxidative stress ~

• Environmental pollution
• Smoking
• Excessive Alcohol
• Pesticides (Round-Up)
• Processed foods with artificial sweeteners and additives
• Poor diet consisting of trans fats
• Inflammation in tissues

So, if our body naturally produces this super antioxidant, how does it become depleted? If we live a lifestyle of eating refined sugars, processed foods, fast food, toxic exposures, and constant stress, our bodies can not keep up with detoxing that amount of oxidative stress. The waste ends up staying in the body and therefore, increasing risk of disease. It’s important to reduce the factors that cause free radicals to form. Below are a few healthier choices ~

• Exercise ~ weight bearing exercises 20 minutes a day, at least 4 days a week
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol
• Get enough sleep
• Eat a balanced diet with foods rich in sulfur and selenium
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Brussels Sprout
  • Potatoes
  • Spinach
  • Avocados
  • Carrots
• Supplements
  • Milk Thistle
  • Omega 3 (Fish Oil)
  • B12, B6, Folate
  • Turmeric Extract
  • Whey Protein

Keep in mind when using supplements…ALWAYS consume the highest quality with the least amount of fillers. This is so important! If you take the time and invest the money in supplements, you expect them to help your body…not harm it. Also, make sure to consult your physician before you start a supplement regimen.

I hope you got a little extra knowledge of what glutathione is and how very important it is in detoxing the body and protecting it from disease. To learn more, there are over 76,000 medical articles on the benefits of glutathione that you can read. If you don’t have that much time on our hands, head over to the amazing new Clean Juice podcast,  Be Organic, and listen to episode 16 to learn more!

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Do you have anything to add about this Master Antioxidant? Let’s start a conversation below!