Glutathione Powers Anti Aging Actions in Your Body – Do You Have Enough Of It?

One chemical that stands out powerfully as an anti aging agent in our body is glutathione. It is a tripeptide made up of three different amino acids – L-glutamine, L-cysteine, and glycine.

The process of aging is related to the presence in the body of highly reactive free roaming “hungry”molecules (popularly known as free radicals) that rob the cells of electrons vital to their functioning. This damage and improper functioning ultimately leads to signs of aging in the body.

Where Do these Free Radicals Come From?

They are a result of harmful factors present in the air we breathe, food we eat, excessive exposure to sun, consumption of alcohol, caffeine, use of cigarettes and stressful life to name a few. Increasing exposure to these unfavourable conditions means increasing requirement in the body of anti aging agents (that neutralize the free radicals) like the glutathione, Vitamins C and E and others.

Slowing the Aging Process

Around age 45, the level of glutathione in the body begins to decline. Ultimately, the levels can dip to as low as 50 percent below the optimum as we age. The effects of the harmful radicals in the body will not be felt as long as it can fight them off. Thus, to retain vigor and that youthful appearance for longer years, you will need to maintain high level of glutathione and other anti aging agents in the body, and this should be done through conscious efforts with passing years.

Why is Glutathione so Important?.

Glutathione protects the cells in which it is present against bacterial and viral infection as well as harmful effects of toxins. In addition, it plays mother’s role to other antioxidants like vitamin C and E by recharging them once they get “reduced” while fighting the free radicals, thereby keeping them in active state.

Another important role of glutathione is removal of toxins from the liver (body’s organ that filters out toxins) through bile or urine. It also enhances the immune system.

As stated earlier, our lifestyle keeps on generating harmful elements in the body; this, in turn, requires constant supply of friendly chemicals like glutathione, vitamins A and E, certain hormones, etc to ward off their injurious effects. Imagine the situation where the later is produced in the body in lesser quantities while the harmful elements keep on being generated in increasing amounts! The unequal battle leads to the weakening of the body – Aging!

Is the Situation That Bad?

Fortunately, remedial actions can be taken, and must be taken, in all consciousness.

While there is an ongoing debate whether reinforcement of glutathione in the body by consuming pills (oral route) is useful or not, we do know for a fact that consuming foods that are laden with building blocks (i.e. cysteine, glutamine and glycine) required for manufacturing this wonderful chemical will definitely help.

Cysteine is abundant in eggs, garlic and whey protein. Another plant substance, called cyanohydroxybutene, found in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage (cruciferos vegetables) helps the body synthesize glutathione as do green tea, fish oil and resveratrol.

Some foods rich in glutathione are asparagus, spinach, avocado, squash, melons, grapefruit and peaches. Whenever possible, eat these foods raw or minimally heated, since heat – especially microwaving – tends to destroy antioxidants.

Active lifestyle helps maintain higher level of glutathione when compared with inactive and sedate lifestyle.

So, next time you think of youthfulness, think of glutathione. While an adult needs 300 to 350 mg of glutathione per day, it has been found that the present estimated consumption is not even 50 mg in most of the cases. No wonder we are aging fast.