Glutathione is the main and the most important antioxidant that protects our mitochondria. Mitochondria are the little factories inside each cell of our body. Their job is to convert the nutrients we take in every day and convert those nutrients into energy or ATP. Think ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) as the energy currency that every cell in your body can use and most importantly, it keeps us alive. Without glutathione, these mitochondria will be damaged by free radicals and that leaves you and me at risks for diseases.

Glutathione is made up of three amino acids: cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. It is made in the liver region, so in order for body produce glutathione, there are three prerequisites:

First, you need to have a healthy liver. We all been taking a lot of medications, even on birth control pills, we are fond of elevating liver enzymes. Chronic infection, drinking alcohol on a regular basis, smoking or exposure to smoke, breathing poor air quality, diabetes or anything that put stress on your liver- that will affect your glutathione level, hence will make your liver work harder.

2. The second prerequisite for glutathione production and with sufficient amount of these three specific amino acids: cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. These amino acids are building blocks from which glutathione is produced, that made it so important.

3. The third prerequisite for glutathione is healthy mitochondria, again these are the

Powerhouse within your cells and with people who have autoimmune diseases, mitochondria are destroyed. And when these mitochondria are destroyed, you shut down the internal operations of making cellular energy within a million of cells in your body.

If you look at this picture, there are two main forms of glutathione: reduced glutathione, which is known as GSH and then there’s the oxidized glutathione which is GSSG. Now these forms are constantly being turned into a recycled from one form to the other.



With the glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, from the nutritional standpoint, diet and specific supplements can be extremely helpful in supporting them in that process of recycling that glutathione



Study after study shows that your body’s ability to constantly take oxidized glutathione and recycle it back to its reduced form may be critical for managing autoimmunity. There are several studies that conclude significant point. More info here. These enzymes, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase come into consideration when we look at it support the glutathione system nutritionally.



So if you’re suffering from chronic health problems such as Fibromyalgia, lupus, migraine, constant or chronic headaches, diabetes, Hashimoto’s, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, and neuropathy are some of the illnesses that inflammation is one of the underlying causes.



Promoting glutathione recycling in the body is something that everyone should be doing. By naturally, supporting the recycling pathways, we’ll be able to support and protect our cell’s mitochondria, which again, are ATP energy producing cells. It enhances the body and tissue recovery. It enables to temper the balance between two branches of the immune system, TH1, and TH2.



TH1 and TH2 are those branches of the immune system that often when they become lopsided or unbalanced, can promote an inflamed autoimmune response. This is the reason why improving glutathione levels ultimately help boost the body’s regulatory process.



For people who are dealing with autoimmunity, the number one goal should be to identify the stimulants that trigger irregularities in the immune system. And again, the balance between the branches of the immune system damping down the immune system reaction, that cause damage in the body.



Here are the ways to boost glutathione levels:



Determine the stressors. Stressors like hormones, food sensitivity, leaky gut, infection, neurotransmitter imbalance, renal dysfunction and the likes.

Give your body the building blocks that is essential in producing glutathione. Bone broth is loaded with these amino acids and that basically is such an important part in boosting glutathione levels. Supplements can help the body convert oxidized glutathione into its reduced state.

Click here for a recommendation.



In summary, increasing glutathione is essential in strengthening the immune system. People need to look the entire health picture. It’s not about consuming the supplements itemized above, but also the holistic approach in repairing the body systems. Keeping the overall glutathione levels helps buffer the body cells from many inevitable stressors that we all heed upon each day.



Until next time, take care.