Glutathione – what it is, benefits and side effects

Glutathione , often referred to as “the mother of all antioxidants,” is one of the most talked about health supplements… and for good reason. Glutathione is produced and used by every cell in the human body and therefore has a wide range of scientifically proven health effects.

What is glutathione?

Glutathione is a peptide containing 3 important amino acids that have several important roles in the human body. Demonstrating the importance to humans, the researchers suggested that cellular levels are a great predictor of life expectancy.

Like vitamin C and E, it is an important antioxidant in the body. What’s special is that it’s positioned inside the cell, making it perfectly positioned to do its job.

Glutathione is an important antioxidant in animals, plants (especially avocados), fungi and some bacteria, where it prevents damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species.

Health benefits of glutathione:

Glutathione is said to protect against a wide range of health problems including alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, atherosclerosis, cataracts, chronic fatigue syndrome, colitis, diabetes , glaucoma, heart disease, hepatitis, high cholesterol , liver disease. , osteoarthritis, Lyme disease. and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, it has the purpose of reversing the aging process, preventing cancer and preserving memory.

1. Ulcerative colitis:

Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis are characterized by oxidative stress, and glutathione is a key antioxidant in gastrointestinal tissue. Animal-based research suggests that supplementation may help treat ulcerative colitis.

In a 2003 study, scientists found that supplementation significantly improved colonic damage in rats with colitis .

2. Cardiovascular health:

In tests on rats, the authors of a 2001 study found that a combination of glutathione supplementation and exercise training can help increase antioxidant capacity and protect against oxidative damage and decreased cardiac function caused by ischemia-reperfusion. restoring blood flow to an area that had previously experienced poor blood flow).

3. Autism:

Glutathione shows promise in treating autism spectrum disorders, a small published study suggests. For the study, 26 children (ages three to 13) with an autism spectrum disorder were assigned to eight weeks of treatment.

Furthermore, the results showed that glutathione supplements helped increase the participants’ levels to some degree. The study authors call for more research into the use of supplements and their potential to improve symptoms of autism spectrum disorders.

4. Pele:

A number of personal care products containing glutathione are marketed for their purported skin -lightening effects . These products include soaps and creams.

However, some people take skin lightening supplements . While it is often touted as a natural skin lightening solution , there is no scientific support for this claim.

Where to find:

Widely available for purchase online, glutathione supplements and personal care products are sold at many health food stores, drugstores, and specialty dietary supplement stores.

Glutathione side effects:

Due to a lack of research, little is known about the side effects of using glutathione supplements . However, there is some concern that using supplements can cause cramping and bloating. Also, some people may experience allergic reactions to glutathione supplements (such as skin rashes).