Recent
statistics have good news for us. Centenarians are the fastest growing
age group in America. What’s the secret to a long and healthy life? And,
what can you do right now to ensure that you will one day take your
place in the ranks of vibrant 100 year olds?
The
answer can very well be found in the presence of a small but
potent molecule made in every cell of your body called Glutathione.
While Glutathione may not have the same notoriety as other more high
profile nutrients such as vitamin C and E, it certainly is a miracle
molecule. Glutathione levels of 41 centenarians between the ages of
100-105 years old were compared with those people between 60-79 years
old. They found that the mean Glutathione activity was significantly
higher in centenarians than in the group of younger elderly subjects,
and that centenarians with the best functional capacity tended to have
the highest Glutathione activity. The study concluded that that high
Glutathione levels are associated with increased survival. In a later
study, Glutathione levels were evaluated in 87 women in
excellent physical and mental health, ranging in age from 60 to 103. The
scientists found that all women had very high blood Glutathione levels.
They followed these women for five years, and concluded “high blood
Glutathione concentrations are characteristic of long-lived women.”
The Life-Extending Master Antioxidant
Glutathione
(GSH) is a tripeptide molecule composed of three amino acids: glutamic
acid, cysteine and glycine. It is one of the main nonprotein
antioxidants that exists within each cell, and has been referred to as
the body’s “master antioxidant.” It rules the body’s cells and is
abundant in cytoplasm, nuclei and the mitochondria. Although discovered
in 1888, the initial research on Glutathione deficiency was conducted in
the 1920’s and 1930’s and concentrated on the eye, particularly
the lens. It is well known that macula degeneration is related to low
levels of Glutathione. By the 1980’s, researchers realized that
Glutathione was a major player in all aspects of good health and disease
prevention. Without adequate Glutathione levels, each cell would
eventually disintegrate from massive free radical damage, your body
would have little resistance to metabolic waste products, and your liver
would be severely compromised from the eventual accumulation of toxins.
Our cells would also be defenseless against the many bacteria, viruses
and many of the carcinogens that pose a health threat. For the past
three decades, researchers have been investigating the role of
antioxidants
for the maintenance of good health as well as for the prevention
and treatment of oxidative stress-induced diseases. While the
better-known antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium must
be obtained from the diet. Glutathione is considered the master
antioxidant because all other antioxidants depend upon the presence of
Glutathione to function properly. For example, it is essential in
regenerating oxidized forms of vitamins C and E by re--circulating them
back into antioxidant function. Normally once these antioxidant vitamins
scavenge free radicals, they can become oxidized themselves and attack
the healthy cells. This is known as prooxidation. Glutathione easily
restores them to their reduced form so they can resume the free radical
scavenging activity again. When the Glutathione systems are functioning
effectively, the use of antioxidants maximizes their effectiveness in
the treatment and prevention of degenerative diseases associated with
oxidative stress. This includes arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes and macular degeneration Glutathione performs
important jobs in the body which includes protecting cells against the
destructive effects of free radicals; detoxifying external
substances such as drugs, environmental pollutants and carcinogens;
maintaining cell membrane stability; regulating protein and DNA
biosynthesis and cell growth; enhancing immunologic function through its
influence on lymphocytes; prostaglandin synthesis; and amino acid
transport. Since it is involved in so many critical functions,
Glutathione impacts all levels of
the body’s physiological
functioning. It is believed that Glutathione has the potential to treat
and prevent hundreds of diseases. When you consider the role that
Glutathione plays in the basic wellness of cells, the primary living
building blocks in our body, you can appreciate why maintaining
Glutathione levels is critical for optimal wellbeing.
Essential Support of Immunity and Detoxification
In
addition to its role as a powerful antioxidant, Glutathione also serves
as an immune system enhancer and a detoxifier. As an immune system
enhancer, Glutathione is needed for the proper functioning, and in
particular the creation and maintenance, of T-cells a type
of lymphocytes, the body’s front-line defense against
infection. Glutathione plays a central role in the proper function of
the white blood cells. Dr. Gustavo Bonus, a Glutathione expert, says,
'The limiting factor in the proper activity of our lymphocytes (the
white blood cells) is the availability of Glutathione.' The healthy
growth and activity of the white blood cells depends upon high levels of
intracellular Glutathione. In people with immune deficiency,
Glutathione levels fall well below the normal levels in blood and immune
cells. Restoring Glutathione levels to those found in healthy people
has benefited immune deficient patients. Studies have suggested that an
increase in the Glutathione level in the body can help patients with
HIV (AIDS) to improve their survival. In a toxic world, survival
literally depends on the body’s ability to adequately detoxify the tens
of thousands of chemicals that are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed into
the body. Glutathione also comes to our rescue as a major detoxifier.
The level of Glutathione in the liver is critically linked to the
liver's capacity to detoxify. This means that the higher the Glutathione
content, the greater the liver's capacity to detoxify harmful
chemicals. Glutathione is able to bind to organic toxins, as well as
heavy metals, solvents and pesticides, and transform them into a form
that can be safely excreted in urine or bile.
Glutathione’s Role in Cancer Prevention
Columbia
University School of Public Health, estimated that 95 percent of
cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity. It is evident that
in order to prevent cancer, it is imperative to protect the body from
this onslaught of toxins. Dr. Dean Jones PhD, Director of Nutritional
Health Sciences at Emory University and Glutathione expert states “ The
role of Glutathione that has probably received the most attention in the
past 50 years is the function of Glutathione as an anti-carcinogen.
Glutathione is used to counter reactive chemicals that would otherwise
cause mutations in the DNA and cause cancer. A little over 50 years ago
it was recognized that many chemicals we are exposed to are activated in
the body to reactive chemicals, the most central way that the body gets
rid of these is by reacting these with Glutathione. Glutathione is the
most anti-carcinogenic chemical we have in our body.” Most people do not
inherit "cancer genes" rather; they have a genetic weakness in their
detoxification system. Glutathione is an extremely important part of
the detoxification system, and, thus, one of our primary defenses
against cancer.
The Miracle Molecule
As
a powerful free radical scavenger, immune enhancer and
detoxifier, Glutathione has shown to be effective in the following
conditions; autism, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases, asthma,
diabetes, lung disease, Parkinson’s’ disease, gastrointestinal
inflammation and Crohn’s disease, hepatitis, chronic fatigue syndrome,
HIV-AIDS, neuro-degenerative diseases such as MS (Multiple Sclerosis),
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and degenerative
eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Medical
science is still ascertaining all the critical roles played by
Glutathione in disease resistance and general good health. Staying
healthy as well as recovering one’s health requires maintaining
high levels of Glutathione. The older we get the more our levels of
Glutathione decline, especially after the age of 45. Therefore, shoring
up your Glutathione reserves is crucial. Who needs to increase
Glutathione levels? If you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness,
are in pain, have autism, are under stress, have digestive problems,
have a weakened immune system, eat lots processed foods, engage
in strenuous exercise, are overweight and feel fatigued, Glutathione
will be a real boost to your wellbeing. And if you are committed to
staying healthy and energetic, then a successful anti-aging program
necessitates maintaining high Glutathione levels.
Dr.
Sherrill Sellman, a naturopathic doctor, best-selling author, radio
host and lecturer can be contacted at http://whatwomenmustknow.com
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