What is Glutathione and How Does it Work?
How Does it Work Skin Care Skincare What is Glutathione
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Glutathione can be seen in every cell of the body, but its primary function is to catalyze the oxidation of most oxygen molecules in the body. Because oxygen is a very reactive substance, glutathione uses the amino acids L-Cysteine, L-Glutamic, G-Cysteine, L-Arginine, N-Acetyl Cysteine, and N-Acetyl Glutarate as cofactors to increase the amount of oxidizing agents they can consume. The amino acids L-Cysteine, L-Glutamic, G-Cysteine, L-Arginine, N-Acetyl Cysteine, and N-Acetyl Glutamine are the building blocks of glutathione and are important for cellular redirection and the maintenance of overall antioxidant status.
There are two types of diseases that glutathione plays a significant role in the prevention of. The first category is inflammation, which occurs when the immune system becomes overactive and starts attacking healthy tissue. Another disease that glutathione can help to fight is cancer, because glutathione has strong anti-tumor properties. Some of the cancer drugs including aspirin and chemotherapy agents have a considerable amount of glutathione in the body. Glutathione helps to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and sugar, because it increases the synthesis of lipids, but it also helps to control blood sugar levels. When there is a low level of glutathione in the body, glucose levels rise abnormally, causing high blood sugar levels and the onset of diabetes. When the body's ability to produce glutathione depletes, heart disease, nerve damage, stroke, cancer, and many other health problems can occur. These diseases are often associated with stress, because chronic stress increases the production of neuropeptides that are harmful to the body. The body uses these neuropeptides in response to a perceived threat, but in chronic stress, there is not enough of them produced to make an adequate response. Some of the diseases that are commonly associated with low glutathione levels in the body include Parkinson's disease, esophageal cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, kidney disease, and cancer. It has also been established that people who suffer from liver disease have a deficiency of glutathione in their bodies. Symptoms of liver disease include jaundice, yellow discoloration of skin and eyes, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and vomiting. In addition, people with liver disease have been found to have lower levels of glutathione in their tissues than healthy individuals. Because the brain and liver are involved in the detoxification process of glutathione, it is important that people with liver disease be treated to restore healthy levels of this vital chemical.
Glutathione's primary function is to maintain a steady-flame defense system for the body. This chemical acts as a detoxifying agent, eliminating toxins and calming inflammation. However, as the body's defense system becomes overactive, glutathione begins to perform what is known as an immunosupression function. This means that glutathione begins to stimulate the body to produce more antibodies, which is a health concern because the increased levels of antibodies can cause a build up of toxins in the body. Many of these toxins are eliminated through excreting them through the bowels, but some remain, causing illness in the form of flu-like symptoms.
While there is no cure for this disease, doctors have developed drugs to help regulate the amount of glutathione in the body. These drugs are commonly used in combination with cancer treatment and radiation therapy. As a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy, for example, a balance between glutathione and chemotherapy medication may be required to control side effects such as fatigue, mood swings, vomiting, nausea, weight loss, and hair loss. In a similar vein, when a person undergoes radiation therapy, a doctor may require that a person receive an adequate supply of glutathione to stave off the adverse side effects of radiation. Many researchers feel that these drugs are effective in the long-term, but not in the short-term.
Glutathione supplements may be taken by anyone wanting to keep the immune system healthy and combat disease. There are no reported side effects of Glutathione supplements, although prolonged use may raise the risk of cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. Some researchers feel that Glutathione supplements may actually slow the aging process and help preserve mental vigor. However, more research is needed to support or refute these claims.