Glutathione is a component naturally found in our bodies. It is formed by three amino acids: cysteine, glutamate and glycine. It is an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of asthma, heart disease, liver disease, memory loss and more.
Unfortunately, the amount of glutathione in our body will start to decrease with age. Another reason for low production of glutathione is poor health. The good news is, in addition to being produced naturally, you can also receive glutathione intravenously, topically or as an inhalant.
That was just a short brief about glutathione. There’s a lot more to know about it. So, read on to know what it does naturally to our body, its benefits, its use in skincare and its side effects.
What does it naturally do to our body?
Glutathione plays a key role in various chemical reactions in our bodies. It helps remove toxic chemicals from our bodies, which includes naturally formed chemicals, pollutants and drugs.
This antioxidant can also help you in:
- Protecting against harmful effects of chemotherapy (proof in this regard is not yet conclusive)
- Boosting your immune system
Benefits of glutathione supplements:
- Brings down oxidative stress
Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an unevenness between free radical production and our body's ability to fight against them. In addition, too much oxidative stress may lead to diabetes, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Glutathione plays a huge role in averting the impact of oxidative stress and reducing the risk of getting certain diseases.
Some studies also showed that low levels of glutathione escalates oxidative stress which can increase your risk of developing cancer. - Reduces cell damage in the liver
Deficiency of glutathione causes cells in the liver to die. This, in turn, can cause fatty liver disease. A clinical trial study in 2017 showed that glutathione helps individuals recover from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease due to its antioxidant properties. - Boosts insulin activity and fat burning
With age, glutathione production in our bodies decreases. One study says that low levels of glutathione lead to less burning of fat, which then leads the body to store an excessive amount of fat. - Walking is painless
When your arteries get clogged due to arterial plaque, it increases your risk of getting peripheral artery disease. Generally, this occurs in the legs. With glutathione supplements, circulation will improve thus giving you a pain-free walk. Also, it’s observed that when a person receives glutathione two times a day, their overall mobility improves. - Reduces Parkinson’s disease symptoms
When you start experiencing tremors, it might be due to Parkinson’s disease. This disease affects your central nervous system. One study showed that intravenous glutathione has a positive effect on the tremors and rigidity caused by Parkinson’s disease. - Fight against autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease is one of the reasons for the increase in chronic inflammation. This disease attacks the mitochondria in certain cells. Glutathione acts as the first line of defense against such attacks. - Mitigates some effects of diabetes
A person that has been suffering from diabetes for a while is likely to have low glutathione levels. This can lead to tissue damage as well as oxidative stress. With high glutathione levels, however, oxidative stress gets lessened and tissue damage is minimized. - Use in skincare and skin lightening products
A few common skin issues include acne, sunburn and skin darkening. Since our society considers color beyond the heart, skin whitening has become a significant part of skincare.
Many skin whitening injections include glutathione. It deactivates the enzyme tyrosine, which helps produce melanin.
Side effects of glutathione:
When it comes to side effects, long term consumption of glutathione can lower the zinc levels in your body. In addition, inhaled glutathione may give individuals asthma attacks. So, when wheezing happens, understand that it’s one of the side effects of glutathione.If you’re sensitive to the effects of glutathione, then we would recommend avoiding it. Also, doctors suggest that pregnant mothers should avoid glutathione consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
Even if you’re already taking glutathione supplements, it's best to tell your doctor. Talk to them about whether or not glutathione is showing any negative side effects in your body. Instead of taking supplements, you can also consume glutathione-filled fruits and vegetables, which are considered much safer.
Conclusion:
This was an in-depth guide about glutathione. As you can see it has plenty of benefits. However, it’s important to keep an eye on your body for unwanted side effects. If you’re facing a health issue after consuming glutathione, seek medical help immediately. Medical attention is necessary to avoid severe allergic reactions and side effects that might threaten your life.
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