General Information:
Glutathione is an antioxidant that’s made up of three amino acids—cysteine, glycine, and glutamine. Produced in the liver and by nerve cells in the central nervous system, glutathione’s main functions are:
- Building and repairing tissues
- Supporting your immune system
- Producing proteins such as sex hormone-binding globulin, and elements such as magnesium, which are helpful for your health and wellness.
In addition to your body’s own glutathione, you can also get the powerful antioxidant from foods like asparagus, avocado, and cucumber .
As an antioxidant, glutathione helps fight free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cells and have been linked to inflammation and a host of age-related diseases from high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s to heart disease and cancer . Glutathione can also aid in the production of Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
Oxidative stress—an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body—and low amounts of vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid can cause glutathione levels to decline . Why that should concern you: Some research indicates that imbalances in glutathione levels play a role in the aging process .