Nature's Gift of Longevity with Health
Topics in this article include:
Master Antioxidant & Detoxification Specialist—The Role of Glutathione in the Body
The Effects of Heat, Storage, Microwave, Toxins, and Stomach Acids on Glutathione Containing Foods
Physical Longevity & the Effects of Toxicity on Glutathione
Which Are Your Best Sources of GSH, Glutathione Supplements, NAC, or Glutathione Supportive Foods?
Potential NAC Side Effects
The Chemicals Traditionally Used to Make Medical Grade NAC
A Recently Developed Green Method of Synthesizing NAC
Whole Foods vs Isolated Compounds (like Medical Grade NAC, and extracted nutrients from plants, like curcumin, vitamin A, C, E, etc.)
Foods and Herbs That Contribute to the Making of Glutathione in the Body
------ --- ------
The sole purpose of developing the chemical N-AcetylCysteine (NAC) concoction is to make an intravenous or pill form of NAC designed to increase L-cysteine in the body for the making of glutathione, the body's master antioxidant.
The question is, apart from emergency measures and instances where food sources of glutathione or its precursors (various sulfur-bearing compounds including l-cysteine) are unavailable or impractical to consume, what reason is there to utilize a pill for such purposes when natural food sources of L-cysteine and numerous other glutathione precursors are so abundantly available?
In this article you will discover a few hidden secrets of NAC's synthesis in the lab and superior alternatives in the plant world, along with an outline of glutathione's benefits in human health including:
-
A description of glutathione's pervasive presence throughout the body and its importance in recovering from virtually any condition caused by pathogens or exposure to toxins.
-
A comparison between the bioavailable effectiveness of the chemical NAC compared to the natural version of glutathione or its precursors found in abundance within a variety of food sources.
-
The influence of cooking and storage on glutathione's viability at the cellular level.
-
The traditional technology used to make the toxic versions of NAC and a recently developed "green" version for NAC synthesis.
-
Some of the best sources in the natural world of glutathione and its precursors.
Master Antioxidant & Detoxification Specialist—The Role of Glutathione in the Body
"We've already found dozens of ways to live an extra decade or two - in good health. The easiest and surest way: Increase your body's supply of glutathione, a natural compound that is a tripeptide (combination of three amino acids)." - Dr. David Williams.
-
Glutathione Stimulating Hormone (GSH) is the body's master antioxidant and detoxifier. Foods that boost glutathione levels can help the body rid itself of heavy metals, chemicals and other toxic substances.
-
GSH appears to be generated from all body tissues, particularly the liver, and to a much lesser extent, skeletal muscle and red blood cells, where cysteine derived from food or methionine is converted to the tripeptide---glutamate, glycine, and cysteine.
-
Glutathione is also central to immune system effectiveness.
-
This same simple tripeptide is key to retaining youth and health overall.
-
GSH is present in all organs, with the highest concentration generally found in the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, heart, and brain
-
GSH concentration is also high in the airway surface mucosa of the nose and throat. This fluid plays a crucial role in protecting the respiratory tract by trapping foreign particles, preventing them from entering the lungs during breathing.
-
The availability of cysteine in the production of GSH drives the kinetics of the whole reaction. Cysteine is mainly derived from the modification of the amino acid methionine and/or the reduction of cysteine such that it can join with the GSH molecule.
-
Glutathione functions in an impressive number and variety of cellular phenomena. Almost any disease seems to benefit from treatment with molecules capable of increasing GSH in vivo. How to Increase Cellular Glutathione
-
SARS-CoV2 (a product of toxicity) and any other infection or toxic metal or chemical depletes cellular glutathione metabolism and the redox functions needed to form GSH, thus the replenishment of GSH during infection is a primary objective in recovery.
-
Glutathione plays at least 15 fundamental roles in metabolic and biochemical reactions including:
1. as the body's master antioxidant, thus serving a central role in heavy metal, chemical, venom, and radiation detoxification, as well as boosting immune response powers.
Glutithione Activity in SARS-Cov-2 and common flu symptom reduction
2. DNA synthesis and repair
3. gene regulation
4. protein synthesis (involved in 1/3 of all proteins made in the body)
5. modulating (regulating) proper immune response
6. regulating apoptosis (the disintegration of dysfunctional cells)
7. an increase in lymphocyte presence (T Cells, B Cells, and Innate Lymphoid Cells which includes Natural Killer Cells) while improving their effectiveness. (Image: A scanning electron micrograph of a red blood cell (left), a platelet (center), and a T lymphocyte (right); colorized)
8. assists in the detoxification of the lungs, thus improving respiratory conditions, especially in cases of lung toxicity (mold, smoking, asbestos, coal mining, etc.)
9. supports redox balance (electron transfer that increases or decreases oxygen in chemical reactions), thus reducing excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) needed to intervene in an overly toxic condition (my personal view, contrary to the published dual role of ROS).
10. helps maintain other antioxidants like Vitamin C and E in their active forms
11. supports amino acid transport and enzyme activation
12. prostaglandin synthesis (controls vascular smooth muscle constriction or dilation and many other vital functions)
13. assists in the detoxification of the small intestines, thus improving digestion
14. assists in the protection of the nervous system, thus the prevention or improvement of neurological disorders
15. assists in the removal of toxins in fat before being incorporated into bile (your fat emulsifier and transport mechanism to remove toxins through the intestines)
Thus, every system in the body can be affected by the presence of glutathione, especially the immune system, the gastrointestinal system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the respiratory system.
The Effects of Heat, Storage, Microwave, Toxins, and Stomach Acids on Glutathione Containing Foods
Both heat and long term storage reduce the quantity of viable glutathione in the food source. Thus maximum benefits are derived from consuming glutathione containing foods in their raw state.
However, foods that contain certain sulfur compounds that survive heat and storage to some degree, like garlic, onions, and other plants in the allium family, will remain a viable method of increasing glutathione presence throughout the body in cases of moderate cooking or storage methods.
Low heat cooking takes a little longer, but preserves more on Nature's valuable nutrients embedded within the food source. The more raw food that one can tolerate will obviously provide the most benefit.
Several raw fruits and vegetables support the production of glutathione or contain glutathione (listed below).
Raw dairy whey made at home from raw, organic, grass-fed milk offers strong support for glutathione production by boosting cysteine, one of the three amino acids responsible for the construction of glutathione within the body (cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid).
Eggs, dairy, and various flesh foods contain viable amounts of glutathione, yet the strong acidic digestive juices required to breakdown these harder to digest foods diminish some of its usability in the body. Low heat cooking will preserve as much of possible of the more delicate nutrients.
Liver, even from organic grass-fed cows, commonly recommended for its selenium content, is not a good source of selenium as one of the glutathione precursors due to the level of toxins still remaining in the liver consumed by the animals from simple grazing beneath polluted skies.
Why? Toxins deplete the quantity of glutathione in the body in its effort to eliminate them from the body, so eating liver can actually be counterproductive to the goal of increasing glutathione in the body due to its capacity for toxin storage.
Of course the same applies to dairy, eggs, and all flesh foods, so the more of these that are consumed the more glutathione supportive foods you will want to consume with them.
Chemical-free vegetable sources(preferably self-grown) of glutathione and its precursors (discussed below), therefore provide a superior alternative to the animal supplies of glutathione and precursors, simply due to the potential additional toxins in diet of animals, given their typical feed sources. Not to be avoided entirely, but to be aware of the challenges today that differ from hundreds of years ago when our environment was much more pristine.
Fresh human breast milk is high in glutathione also, yet this diminishes rapidly if the milk is left out on the counter for later use, frozen, or refrigerated, losing as much as 70-80% of its original content. Cooked, pasteurized, microwaved, and processed foods contain little to no viable glutathione. (Ankrah NA et al. J Trop Pediatr. 2000 Apr;46(2):111-3)
It is important to note that microwaved food has little to no nutrition in it at all, as the microwaving converts the food and drink into toxic compounds. This includes water, coffee, and of course, breast milk.
Physical Longevity from Glutathione and the Effects of Toxicity on Glutathione
In animal experiments, increased glutathione production in the body increased longevity by about 40%.
The more toxic the body is, however, the faster glutathione levels in the body are used up.
As an example, in experimental animals, liver glutathione levels were reduced 70 to 80% after administering acetaminophen (Tylenol/Paracetamol).
NAC is the standard medically recommended protocol for the treatment of liver poisoning from the use of Tylenol. It is also recognized by many professionals as an effective treatment for poisoning from immunizations.
Its effectiveness is drawn from the fact that it breaks down in the body leaving L-cysteine, one of the three amino acids required to make glutathione, thus providing additional glutathione for the elimination of toxins.
Yet, cysteine can be derived more readily from natural sources, and without the additional toxicity of NAC (as will be revealed below).
The above study also associated the rapid and long term depletion of glutathione from Tylenol intake with increased aging and susceptibility to disease:
"The results support the hypothesis that a decrease in GSH [glutathione] and mixed function oxidases [enzymatic pathways involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and numerous hormones] may contribute to changes associated with aging as well as to the increased susceptibility to disease and drugs which occur with advanced age."
One mechanism for how chemical toxins in the liver can result in liver failure was described in another study:
"The toxicity is initiated by the formation of a reactive metabolite, which depletes glutathione and binds to cellular proteins, especially in mitochondria... The mitochondrial dysfunction and nuclear DNA damage ultimately cause oncotic [within the capillaries] necrotic cell death with release of damage-associated molecular patterns that trigger a sterile inflammatory response. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that innate immune cells do not contribute to injury but are involved in cell debris removal and regeneration." [Which is evidence, BTW, that autoimmunity is not scientifically supported, for the simple reason that the Creator did not create the body to attack itself. What is perceived as an attack on tissues is merely the immune system on overdrive in its attempt to remove damaged cells which have been damaged by toxicity, the Tylenol case above being one clear example.]
Similar conclusions between toxins and glutathione depletion can be drawn regarding other pharmaceutical drug-based therapies (the vast majority of which are derived from, or manufactured via toxic petroleum compounds, with NAC being no exception here), as well as other forms of toxic exposures from the home, work, diet, and environment.
Therefore, if you have ever been exposed to the following you need to pay very close attention to consuming glutathione supportive foods on a daily basis:
a. prescription drugs, radiation-based diagnostic or therapy measures
b. immunization shots (all of which contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals)
c. antibiotics
d. over the counter drugs
e. microwaved food, water, or beverages (converts all to toxins)
e. still have, or had, silver-mercury amalgam fillings in your mouth
f. have been exposed to house or farm use herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or chemical cleaning fluids
g. have used non-organic cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, sunscreens, or toothpastes (the ones with poison control warnings on the label!)
h. have been exposed to work related chemicals or radiation
i. have been in the military
j. have lived near nuclear power plants, munitions manufacturing plants, chemical manufacturing plants, oil refinery plants, electrical power generating plants, or toxic waste disposal sites
k. have lived in a moldy home, or exposed to workplace or yard mold
l. have lived, or work, or attended school near a cell phone tower or an airport
m. have WIFI in your home or are subjected to broadcasts from your neighbors
n. have a Smart Meter on your home or workplace
o. spend time on a cell phone or cordless phone
p. have a Smart TV, Smart appliances/light bulbs, or are being exposed to harmful scalar waves by other means
Which Are Your Best Sources of GSH---Glutathione Supplements, NAC, or Glutathione Supportive Foods?
As stated at the beginning of this article, the primary purpose for inventing a compound like NAC is to provide a convenient source of L-cysteine to the body for the synthesis of glutathione.
Yet, L-cysteine exists naturally in several common foods, or can be synthesized within the body from organosulfur compounds, like S-allyl cysteine (SAC),found in onions and garlic, as described in this article below.
Clearly, "naturally occurring" sources have an advantage over isolated pieces of plants or petroleum chemical derived inventions (like NAC), simply due to the more comprehensive nutritional profiles found in whole foods and herbs, allowing for a synergistic balance of medicinal influences entering the body at once.
However, it is important to note that the chemical version of NAC was a patented pharmaceutical (now expired). Therefore, in light of recent current events, can it really be trusted to be in your best interest?
NAC stimulates the cleansing of the body, yet, it is simply another isolated compound, missing the comprehensiveness of Nature's original forms, and therefore can have side effects to its use (see below).
NAC stimulates the body to thin the lung mucus to increase expectoration and increase kidney output in order to rid itself of poisons in the body. But, what if the NAC is also adding poisonous chemicals to the body (as will be shown below)?
So, the chemical compound accelerates detoxification, which is a benefit, and yet its presence in the body can also trigger some of its known side effects.
The most commonly reported adverse effects from IV formulations of N-acetylcysteine are rash, urticaria [hives], and itchiness.
Up to 18% of patients have been reported to experience anaphylaxis reaction, which are defined as rash, hypotension, wheezing, and/or shortness of breath. Lower rates of anaphylactoid reactions have been reported with slower rates of infusion...
Adverse effects for oral formulations of acetylcysteine have been reported to include nausea, vomiting, rash, and fever...
Although N-acetylcysteine prevented liver damage when taken before alcohol, when taken four hours after alcohol it made liver damage worse in a dose-dependent fashion.
The purging of poisons need an exit. The skin is one of the several organs that is often used to rid the body of toxins that the liver has accumulated. However, the skin is designed to release these toxins during sweating phases and the sluffing off of dead cells, yet how many are actually going to be able to keep up with enough sweat or body scrubs to manage a rapid purge?
Possibly with clay baths and clay body slurries will one be able to keep pace with such intense sudden detoxification.
However, why use a chemical when Nature has safer, more effective alternatives?
As mentioned above, expectorating the lungs and accelerating kidney function to rid the body of toxins stirred up by the drug, are NAC's primary objectives.
Natural alternatives for thinning and expectorating mucus from the lungs include Licorice Root, Elecampane, Eucalyptus, and many other herbs, some of which are found in Lung Support.
Supporting kidneys in their natural blood filtration function is readily performed by Cleavers, Parsley, Queen of The Meadow, and numerous other herbs, some of which are found in Kidney & Adrenal Builder + Urinary System.
A natural alternative to N-Acetylcysteine is found in onions, garlic, chives and other members of the allium family, as explained in more detail below.
The Chemicals Traditionally Used to Make Medical Grade NAC
The traditional process requires complicated steps and harsh chemical operating procedures.
The manufacture of NAC has historically required a large quantity of tetrahydrofuran and other organic solvents (some are identified below) which raised the production cost and heavily polluted the environment due to production wastewater.
In 2021 an improved method for synthesizing NAC was developed, touted as better than the previous more toxic process, yet it also involved numerous toxic chemicals and processes. Their "improved" method for synthesizing N-Acetylcysteine involved the following chemicals:
-
L-cysteine---is found naturally in whey, eggs, lentils, sunflower seeds, and a number of flesh foods. Several advantages exist to using these naturally occurring versions of L-cysteine over the supplement form, NAC:
1) Naturally occurring L-cysteine from foods can directly participate in glutathione synthesis, whereas, with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the acetyl molecule must first be removed while in the body before its incorporation into glutathione.
2) Pure L-cysteine (ideally from food sources) is also a more efficient thiol (sulfur-containing compound) precursor than the acetylcysteine in NAC employed in the synthesis of glutathione.
3) L-cysteine also crosses the red blood cell membranes more efficiently compared to N-acetyl-L-cysteine.
4) Availability to the red blood cells of circulating L-cysteine within the blood was also found to be higher than that of the supplement NAC circulating in the blood.
-
N-acetyl-1H-benzotriazole---An acetyl derivative of benzotriazole, which is a petroleum derived chemical used facilitate a peptide bond between cysteine and acetyl in the making of NAC. Benzotriazole has a low toxicity level, but demonstrates antiestrogenic properties.
-
tetrahydrofuran---Primarily used as a solvent and to extract various compounds from natural sources such as plant extracts. Tetrahydrofuran is a solvent that results in several toxic side effects including Central Nervous System depression, tissue irritation, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and blood on exposure.
Occupational hazards for those using this solvent industrially include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. High concentrations of tetrahydrofuran vapor can cause drowsiness, unconsciousness, and even death.
-
Thionyl chloride---Thionyl-chloride (TCl) hydrolyzes upon contact with water or alcohol in the body, yielding sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride, and most, if not all, of the side effects of thionyl chloride are probably caused by these hydrolysis products.
Sulfur dioxide acts on the respiratory system via stimulation of bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion in the upper airways. It injures cells lining the airway passages and causes mucus-secreting goblet cells to proliferate. These two events result in airway narrowing and increased airflow resistance (Costa 2001).
Inhaled hydrogen chloride irritates the respiratory tract following a latency period of several hours. Following exposure, the epithelial barrier in the alveolar zone breaks down and begins to leak, causing pulmonary edema (Witschi and Last 2001).”
Thionyl-chloride is also a controlled substance since it can used in the manufacture of harmful chemical agents.
-
Acetic acid---Commonly found in vinegar and must be heavily diluted to reduce unsavory side effects such as erosion of tooth enamel, burning of the throat, and body acidity.
It is my experience that vinegar, in general, is hard on the body in a variety of way. Investigating this, I now know why: Acetic acid ingestion can cause premature breakdown of red blood cells, respiratory and kidney insufficiency, liver necrosis (destruction/decay of living tissue), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which is a severe and life-threatening blood coagulation dysfunction characterized by widespread microvascular thrombosis (tiny blood clots) resulting in the depletion of clotting factors and platelets leading to a loss of clotting ability and bleeding from multiple sites.
-
Acetone---In humans, acetone is a natural byproduct of the breakdown of fat. High concentrations or the repeated ingestion or inhalation of chemical acetone can harm the nervous system. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion. Severe exposure can cause unconsciousness.
-
Methanol---Methanol is found naturally in humans, animals, and plants. Methonal itself is not highly toxic. Methanol's breakdown products, formaldehyde and formic acid, however, are extremely toxic and may cause a severe metabolic acidosis, blindness, encephalopathy (dysfunction of the brain), or even death. Methanol is also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, and carbinol.
-
Ethanol---Found in all alcoholic beverages with well known side effects, primarily if consumed regularly, especially in volume, but would likely be safe in the small amount ingested in NAC, with one exception, thionyl-chloride reacts with alcohols, which may result in some of the side effects mentioned above.
-
diethyl ether---Formerly used as an anesthetic prior to surgery. Very small doses to eyes or skin can cause corneal injury and burns. Toxic exposures to ethers (as with other anesthetics) can occur through inhalation, eye or skin contact, and ingestion. The effect of ether is dose-dependent. Symptoms consist of skin, eye, and mucosal irritation leading to an increase in bronchial secretions. Dizziness, drowsiness, bradycardia, hypothermia, or acute excitement may also occur. Laryngospasm, loss of consciousness, and death may result.
It is common for residues of chemicals used during manufacturing to end up in the product.
Does this sound appetizing to you?
In early 2023 a Chinese team presented a method of synthesizing NAC using a unique electrochemical / electrodialysis process. The paper on the process was published in September 2023 entitledA novel green preparation process for N-acetyl-L-cysteine: More efficient, economical and environmentally friendly
The NAC preparation process combines electrochemical synthesis with electrodialysis technology, using a carbon electrode (as opposed to a lead electrode in previous manufacturing methods).
The process improves production efficiency and reduces both energy consumption and production costs compared to previous methods. It alsosignificantly reduced the quantity of organic solvents consumption and wastes discharge, being more environmentally friendly.
Is the resulting product going to work better than Mother Nature's own plant-based versions? Not likely, but hopefully for emergency measures when treating medical crisis conditions, it will provide a stable, practical use product where natural food sources are not practical or available.
Again, the sole purpose of developing the chemical NAC concoction is to make an intravenous or pill form of NAC to increase L-cysteine in the body for the making of glutathione.
Yet, the plants in the Allium genus, which includes approximately 500 species, including onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, scallion, and chives, contain numerous naturally occurring organosulfur compounds—which are natural sources from which glutathione is constructed within the body.
Just a few of the organosulfur compound derivatives found in the Allum genus include S-Allylmercapturic acid (ALMA), allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), allyl methyl sulfoxide (AMSO), allyl methyl sulfone (AMSO2), and S-allylcysteine (SAC) (which is very close to the chemical form of NAC, yet SAC is naturally occurring and superior in its performance within the body).
The Allum genus also contains vitamins, minerals, and numerous supportive compounds which boost immune functions in a multitude of ways. For instance, onions are by far the richest dietary source of quercetin derivatives (highly recommended during a flu season).
Asparagus, okra, avocados, spinach, and raw milk whey are also common sources of glutathione or its precursors.
However, in an emergency, if this knowledge of garlic and onions (and other natural resources beneficial during times of an emergency) are not known or not readily available, then the use of the medical NAC can be life saving—if the person is able to manage the intense purging of toxins from its administration.
Intravenous administration of NAC is more likely to provoke these side effects than oral administration, yet oral NAC is not assimilated as well, thus requiring higher dosage to be effective, and as we saw above the pure L-Cysteine is more bioavailable than NAC versions.
Apart from this emergency use at times when one is unaware of the more effective herbal and food resources that support the body's own synthesis of glutathione, I recommend keeping the body supplied with Nature's own remedies in their whole forms, preferably taken in on a daily basis as a preventative, so the emergency never develops. (See the list below.)
Whole Foods vs Isolated Compounds (like Medical Grade NAC, and extracted nutrients from plants, like curcumin, vitamin A, C, E, etc.)
Whole foods and herbs are the superior way to obtain any nutrient required for overall health. How to Increase Cellular Glutathione
Isolated ingredients, especially when formulated in a lab, can quickly disturb your biological terrain when taken over extended periods, or taken in quantity, and will not be as wholesome or balanced as something designed by Nature for the human body.
Without exception, isolated components found within a food source (like vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, etc.) will require complementing nutrients to support their assimilation and utilization in the body).
Invariably those supportive compounds will also be found in the same food source they were taken from as well.
One example is rose hips and other herbs included in Herbal C that will naturally contains both the vitamin C and the required bioflavonoids and other phytonutrients to enhance the effectiveness of vitamin C in the body.
Herbs high in vitamin C also contain numerous antioxidants helpful in detoxification and the elimination of pathogens.
This is why I do NOT recommend taking medical NAC, except in an emergency, when more balanced, whole food approaches are not available.
Yes, it can save lives, yet, when we have time to detox in a more gentle fashion and are incorporating other practices to keep the lymph, bowels, and kidneys flowing, such a strong catalyst as NAC is not necessary.
There are much safer versions available directly from Nature that cause no harm to your liver, skin, and kidneys from over-flushing—and which do not trigger potential anaphylactic responses to the abundance of toxins leaving the body all at once (or toxins contained in the supplement).
Foods and Herbs That Contribute to the Making of Glutathione in the Body
Food sources that increase glutathione do so by providing precursor building blocks (glutamate, glycine, l-cysteine, l-cystine, selenium, sulfur, alpha lipoic acid, vitamins C&E, folate, carnosic acid, glutathione reductase, etc.).
Therefore, a steady, daily intake of glutathione-supportive whole foods and herbs is the best way to maintain high levels of glutathione in the body, and thereby chip away at the stockpile of toxins that have accumulated over the years (and continue to take in on a daily basis).
The body needs more than just a single catalyst, like NAC. It needs hundreds of other nutrients to maintain equilibrium while cleansing.
The truth is, cayenne pepper in small to moderate (even large) quantities will accomplish a detoxification effect and thinning of the mucus much more safely than the medical NAC.
Cayenne pepper possesses a rich history in healing and accelerating recovery from virtually any condition. Its nutritional profile includes many essential nutrients for overall health, such as niacin, zinc, vitamin A, E, C, several B's, quercetin, iron, magnesium, folate, essential fatty acids, phosphorus, potassium, and many others.
Cayenne pepper is a perfect example of why whole foods are superior medicines, as they will also contain numerous supportive phytonutrients required for the optimal delivery of their active ingredients, many of which nutritional science of today has yet to discover, and will not be contained in the supplements of single isolated compounds.
Cayenne pepper also contains four enzymes involved in the Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle.
The ascorbate-glutathione cycle is a metabolic pathway that detoxifies hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced as a waste product in metabolism.
Any herb or food containing Vitamin C, many of which are contained in the Herbal C formula, will support this detox pathway as well.
Sea vegetables contain all of the important glutathione precursors in a bioavailable form, along with numerous minerals, iodine (antimicrobial), selenium (immune boosting and a glutathione precursor), amino acids, proteins, and alkalizing benefits (essential to healing).
Milk thistle seed, Silybum marianum, has been shown to prevent liver damage caused by various chemicals or toxins. This natural herbal medicine has been successfully used for centuries to treat liver diseases. Milk Thistle Seed is found in the following herbal formulas:
To date, several clinical studies have been conducted confirming the GSH-enhancing effect of whey protein taken over several weeks.
Some foods may contribute to the maintenance of GSH levels in the body. First, some fruits and vegetables contain significant amounts of GSH (e.g., asparagus, avocado, spinach) or its precursor cysteine (asparagus, red bell pepper, papaya).
Cruciferous vegetables are also of interest because they contain molecules capable of increasing GSH, such as sulforaphane and dithiolethiones.
Hyssop, while not directly contributing to glutathione's construction, is one of Nature's finest liver and organ detoxifiers, with great benefits for the entire respiratory system and pathogen reduction powers which are complementary to glutathione's purpose in the body.
Pine Needles also provide excellent glutathione production support along with close to 700 other nutritional compounds and their health benefits.
Hyssop Pine Tea contains Pine Needles (containing GSH and its precursors) along with Rosemary (another antioxidant), and many other system detoxifiers and immune boosting herbs.
Vitamin D derived from from sunlight, mushrooms, pine needle tea, and sea vegetables increase the production of glutathione in the body, particularly in the brain.
Raw goat or A2 cow whey, cultured at home, (by simply leaving it out on the counter until the curds and whey separate, or adding Sacred Clay to accelerate the separation of curds and whey in one to three days depending on room temperature) is one of the highest known sources of glutathione precursor cysteine, and is readily absorbed.
The dry powder of un-denatured raw whey protein is an acceptable option as long as it comes from antibiotic and hormone free, grass fed animals.
Raw milk (should be hormone and antibiotic free) will also contain cysteine, although the whey itself is the form that is most easily assimilated. The whey must be unpasteurized, made from the raw milk to be an effective glutathione producer.
Animal milk tends to concentrate radiation, yet this can be mitigated by feeding your animals Silica Rich Clay and Kelp to draw the radiation and other toxins out of the animal (and increase milk production at the same time).
Milk thistle seed helps to prevent glutathione depletion in the liver. It is also a natural liver detoxifier and liver protectant.
Watermelon is one of the great sources of plant-based glutathione precursors, while in moderate amounts, showing tremendous benefits in the regulation of blood sugar levels in diabetics, (especially in a case of over-acidity, given watermelon's natural alkalizing effect).
Asparagus, spinach, okra, and avocado consumed raw are commonly reported as the highest plant-based sources of glutathione.
Raw okra is also naturally high in glutathione precursors and assists in the elimination of the mucoid plaque in the small intestines.
Raw spinach, tomatoes, and rice bran are high in Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) which promotes the synthesis of glutathione in the body. (Although tomato sauce can result in heart arrhythmia in some people.)
Spinach, parsley, chlorella, phytoplankton, seaweeds, alfalfa, moringa and other dark green herbs and foods contain a high amount of chlorophyll which drives the creation of glutathione.
Several spices found in Indian curry including turmeric, cinnamon, and cardamom contain glutathione precursors.
Rosemary contains carnosic acid which supports glutathione synthesis – and which is shown to be behind its antioxidant, metal chelation, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The sulfur-containing vegetables (kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions, garlic, cauliflower, bok choy, watercress, mustard, horseradish, turnips, rutabagas, kohlrabi) assist in the making of glutathione in the body (glutathione is a sulfur-containing molecule).
Sacred Clay also contains sulfur, along with a balance of iron, silica, and other minerals that support glutathione usage in the body.
A functional ileum (at the end of your small intestine) manufactures methylation nutrients like vitamins B6, B9, B12, and biotin, all of which support glutathione production.
Pink Sulfur Salt (Black Salt) contains sulfur and minerals important for glutathione production.
Herbal C and fruits containing vitamin C or the oligomeric proanthocyanidins or anthocyanidins found in bilberry, grape seeds & skin, grape seed extract, cocao, cinnamon, pine needles, blueberries, cranberries, hawthorn berries, rose hips, and sea buckthorn berries, relieve the strain on the liver's use of glutathione by providing their antioxidant powers in the liver's defense.
Peaches are also among the many fruits containing glutathione precursors.
Red beets provide a potent antioxidant in its betalain pigments thus relieving the strain on glutathione levels. Red beets also provide support for nitric oxide in the body, the loss of which is implicated in blood pressure imbalances.
Aloe vera supports the increased presence of glutathione through its antioxidant properties.
Rhodiola rosea and other adaptogens in Adaptogen & Mushroom Blend or Kidney & Adrenal Builder or Revitalize for Men / Women protect glutathione levels in the body through their potent antioxidant properties.
Brazil nuts - the highest natural source of selenium. Selenium is a co-factor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. (1-2 Brazil nuts per week. Keep it minimal due to the way nuts also feed the herpes strain of viruses).
Legumes (beans, lentils, alfalfa, clover, peas, etc.) are also high in selenium and thereby support glutathione production. (Be cautious with peas and pea protein, however, as they promote the herpes strains more that other legumes. Nuts and seeds in quantity will also, due to their high arginine content.)
The most valuable and effective glutathione promoters are sea vegetables. Most of them contain glutathione in addition to additional compounds that support its production in the body.
Sea vegetables also contain chlorophyll, protein, a full spectrum of amino acids, minerals, electrolytes, and numerous plant-based compounds that boost immune response and assist in hormone production, among hundreds of other benefits to the human body (alkalizes, detoxes chemicals and heavy metals, balances hormones and sugar levels, boosts immune responses, etc.). (Glutathione Related Disorders: Do Seaweeds have Potential for Cure).
Sea Vegetable Blend combines several seaweeds and algae along with moringa, all of which exist as some of Nature's most dense nutritives and effective glutathione promoters.
Whole herbs and foods have the critical function of glutathione formation taken care of. Therefore herbs, sea vegetables, and whole foods will be your best sources of precursor elements required for the manufacture of this valuable master antioxidant in your body.
Foods that are high in glutathione precursors, and therefore help boost glutathione levels naturally, are best when eaten raw (as in raw asparagus or a spinach salad), or fermented (like in sauerkraut or whey).
Cooking, pasteurization, and microwaving food destroys the delicate glutathione precursor amino acids – glutamate, glycine, and cysteine.
Glutathione precursors in raw foods also survive the stomach acids better than the supplement form.
The reason that the pill-form of pure glutathione doesn't work as well is primarily because glutathione is manufactured inside the cell, or within the liver, from its three precursor amino acids, glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine. The pill form of glutathione can also be toxic, or of an unreliable quality.
So food sources that provide these L-cysteine and other precursor components, or which support their construction in the body, are the most efficient way to improve glutathione levels in the body.
The human body is complex. Only a naturally made whole food is able to provide the very best support possible to meet our physiological requirements long term.
On the other hand, short term, in emergencies, isolated fragments of natural whole foods and herbs can be therapeutic if nothing else is available, but it is much better to stay close to the whole food, herb, or clay versions for long term, daily health maintenance.
Glutathione supportive foods are Nature's way of giving us long lives with health and vitality!
Many blessings of health and success.
Enjoy the many gifts from Nature!
