Glutathione: The Mother of all Antioxidants

Glutathione is known as the mother of all antioxidants. The level of Glutathione in our cells is predictive of how long we will live. Because glutathione levels diminish as we age, many diseases normally associated with aging have been linked to glutathione deficiency. The good news is that researchers have discovered how to assist our body to increase the level of glutathione.

The Health Benefits of Glutathione

Glutathione is the master antioxidant and detoxifier of every cell in your body. It is a tripeptide composed of three amino acids- cysteine, glutaminic acid and glycine. Glutathione prevents cellular damage caused by free radicals and peroxides.

There are over 100,000 medical and scientific journal articles written on the Glutathione (GSH) subject to date. One of the reasons for GSH’s increasing popularity, is that it exists in every cell of your body and is essential for life and critical for health.

One research team at Oregon State University has determined that glutathione may help detoxify environmental pollutants. Glutathione is continuously defending our body against attacks from disease, toxins, poisons, viruses, pollutants, radiation and oxidative stress. Glutathione levels decline with age, which opens the door for a wide range of age-related health issues.

Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD - "Your life depends on glutathione. Without it, your cells would disintegrate from unrestrained oxidation, your body would have little resistance to bacteria, viruses and cancer, and your liver would shrivel up from the eventual accumulation of toxins."

Symptoms of Glutathione Deficiency

Many diseases are linked to glutathione deficiencies, including neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. A research study by Dr. S. Jill James showing that children with autism have impaired antioxidant defense due to low glutathione levels. Dr. James has published several studies and has connected autism, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Research has shown that almost all chronic conditions are characterized by glutathione deficiency: HIV/AIDS, asthma, cancers, vision conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, liver and kidney diseases, digestive system, fibromyalgia, flu and colds, skin disorders, seizures, tumors, autism spectrum disorders and more.

Jeremy Appleton, ND - "If you look in a hospital situation at people who have cancer, AIDS, or other very serious disease, almost invariably they are depleted in glutathione. The reasons for this are not completely understood, but we do know that glutathione is extremely important for maintaining intracellular health." Jeremy Appleton, ND is the chairman of the department of nutrition at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon

Many world-class athletes are discovering that well-maintained glutathione levels give them the edge over their competitors, bringing greater strength and endurance, decreased recovery time from injury, less muscle pain and fatigue, and muscle-promoting activity.

With the unfolding of the nuclear disaster in Japan, and the consequent potential for weather-carried radiation exposure in North America and the rest of the northern hemisphere, many people are asking what they can do to protect themselves from radiation damage. While most people are aware of the use of iodine supplementation to protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine fallout, most of the actual damage from radiation is due to runaway oxidative stress and consequent DNA damage.

At last we can explain why some youngsters are more susceptible to neurological damage from the mercury-containing preservative, thimerosal and other poisons. If not enough glutathione is available, heavy metals and toxins are stored in fat tissue. The brain, nervous system, breasts and prostate are mostly fat, and therefore become receptacles for environmental poisons.

The Myth of Eating Glutathione

One common myth about glutathione is that you can eat glutathione and consequently raise your body’s GSH levels. Untrue. Eating glutathione supplements or foods rich in glutathione will not do the trick. Most of it will end up being broken down in your digestive tract and eliminated. Since glutathione is made within your cells, what needs to be accomplished is delivering the building blocks (“precursors”) of GSH to the cells themselves. The hardest glutathione precursor to find in our diet is the amino acid “cysteine” which must be in a form that survives the trip from your mouth to your living cells. This is not as easy as it sounds.

In nature, this usable form of cysteine can be found in eggs, but the eggs must be raw, otherwise the proteins that carry the cysteine are changed by heat and lose their efficiency as a “cysteine delivery vehicle”. Another good source would be meat, but again, the meat would need to be raw to be a competent source of cysteine. Aside from a well-prepared steak tartar, safe sources of raw meat are not abundant. What about vegetables? You guessed it. Raw cruciferous veggies are a decent source, but you would have to eat a whole bunch of broccoli with all the gaseous consequences your spouse will suffer.

How to Boost Your Glutathione Level

The original research team headed by Dr. Gustavo Bounous adopted the trade name Immunocal, a natural source of the glutathione precursor cysteine which contains the glutathione building blocks. Many natural products are available that claim to help your immune system, but very few have undergone the rigorous testing and published human trials that Immunotec has accomplished over the years. Over forty published scientific and medical articles attest to its remarkable credibility. Besides its ability to raise glutathione and all the benefits that come with it, Immunocal proteins have a very high BV (Biological Value).

At the beginning of the 70’s, under the direction of Gustavo Bounous, MD, (FRCSC), a team of researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University (Canada), was studying proteins of animal and vegetable origins in order to feed the patients with an elemental diet that would allow them to reduce their stay in hospital.

Since 1978, their studies had been focusing on whey proteins. This work led to the surprising discovery that a specific undenatured whey protein concentrate helped to sustain optimal glutathione levels. Subsequent identification of the active ingredients present in this protein mixture led in 1993 to the production of a high-quality bioactive protein that was given the name Immunocal.

This research was supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada and the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The observed effects of Immunocal which have been discovered at McGill University have been evaluated by numerous independent research centers worldwide, notable in Germany, Japan, Australia, France, United States and in Nova Scotia (Canada).

Healthy people also benefit from elevated glutathione levels through an enhanced ability to fight off toxins, infectious disease, pre-cancerous cells and the aging process itself.

Medical Professionals on the Benefits of Glutathione

Dr. Jean Marcoux M.D - "Almost everyone I put on Immunocal tells me that they feel better as soon as they start taking the product. This is explained by the fact that Immunocal brings to all the cells in our body, the building blocks necessary to produce glutathione, a small protein that each cell needs to function properly. In severe asthmatics taking Immunocal, the attacks become less frequent and less severe. The need for medication is decreased, they sleep better, they don't miss work or school as often, resulting in a better quality of life." Dr. Jean Marcoux is a Board Certified Allergist, Immunologist

Dr. Allan Somersall, Ph.D., M.D. with Dr. Gustavo Bounous, M.D. - "Without glutathione, other important antioxidants such as vitamins C and E cannot do their job adequately to protect your body against disease."

Dr. Paul Cheney - "Glutathione has potent anti-viral properties - if you raise the glutathione level you can stop the replication of most any, at least, intracellular pathogen....but glutathione deficiency produces a pro-viral effect."

"It is well known that aging is accompanied by a precipitous fall in glutathione levels. Lower glutathione levels are implicated in many diseases associated with aging, including cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, atherosclerosis and others."

Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD - " - "Healthy people benefit from elevated glutathione levels through an enhanced ability to fight off toxins, infectious disease, pre-cancerous cells and the aging process itself. Many world-class athletes are discovering that well-maintained glutathione levels give them the edge over their competitors, bringing greater strength and endurance, decreased recovery time from injury, less muscle pain and fatigue, and muscle-promoting activity."
"Raised glutathione levels fight the oxidation of circulating fats in the bloodstream, including cholesterol, retarding the process of plaque formation in the arteries - the underlying cause for most heart disease and stroke". - Nutrition Reviews 54: 1-30, 1996

"Doctors have used glutathione-promoting drugs to treat many lung diseases including asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Newer potential therapeutic roles can be found for cigarette smoke damage, pulmonary fibrosis and other illnesses." - American Journal of Medical Science 307: 119-127, 1994

"Glutathione protects the body from the inflammation of gastritis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease." - Gut 42: 485-492, 1998

Dr. Jimmy Gutman, MD - "Clinical evidence links low glutathione levels to the most common illnesses of our time as well as newly emerging diseases. Glutathione levels diminish as we age and many diseases normally associated with aging have been linked to glutathione deficiency."

Ray Sahelian, M.D. - "L Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found within every cell. Glutathione plays a role in nutrient metabolism, and regulation of cellular events (including gene expression, DNA and protein synthesis, cell growth, and immune response).

Glutathione's for Animal Health

Researchers at Oregon State University not only offers some profound insights into why the health of animals declines with age, but specifically points to a compound that might help prevent some of the toxic processes involved. Cells from younger animals are far more resistant to stress than those from older animals. A professor of biochemistry in the OSU College of Science. “In young animal cells, stress doesn’t cause such a rapid loss of glutathione. The cells from older animals, on the other hand, were quickly depleted of glutathione and died twice as fast when subjected to stress.

Some of the finest horse trainers have recognized that a product that provides overall immune system building can help horses in breeding, racing, eventing and recovering from injury or stress. They use a product called Immunocal supplement, A Natural Source of the Glutathione GSH Building Block.

"I gave 3 packets of Immunocal each to 2 mares with huge problems with flies. I left the other 3 horses without any immunocal. I didn't notice huge effects right off, but then did today (5 days after finishing the 3rd packet). The mare and colt who did not get Immunocal were covered with flies around their faces. The mare who did get the Immunocal (and she is the one who is usually totally chewed up by flies and mosquito's), had a few flies around her that landed and left. Will now give it to the others and see if they "loose" their flies. Also, my black mare who suffers badly from no see ums, has quieted and seems much more comfortable." - Jayme B

Cat with Cancer

Our daughter was in medical school and our cat, Roxie Star, was living with her. When Roxie Star was 10 years old, she started throwing up all the time. Eventually she would not eat at all. Our daughter took her to the Vet, who performed surgery on her, and showed our daughter the cancer. Roxie had Lymphoma cancer throughout her digestive tract. Food could no longer get through any of her stomach or intestines. The Vet did not operate to remove the cancer because he said Roxie was terminal.

The doctor told our daughter to take her home and say goodbye to her; she had, at the most, 2 days left. It was rough, but my husband and I convinced our daughter to take her back to the Vet in 2 days, to put her down. When she went, Roxie looked up at her, pleading with her eyes. Our daughter was 2 weeks away from the National Board Exams for medical school, and her father and I wanted her to focus and be calm.

So we drove eight hours, across the state, to get Roxie. We said we’d bring her home to our Vet, and when she passed away, we would bury her in our backyard. The vet who diagnosed Roxie spoke with us and suggested we take her home, take lots of photos of her, and send them to our daughter every day telling her that she was getting better. However, he said it was not possible, and to put her down ASAP. My husband did bring Roxie back and I stayed with our daughter to help her get through the exams because she was very distraught about Roxie.

We read a testimonial about a dog with cancer that was healed by boosting his glutathione level. So my husband got Roxie home and started mixing a little regular Immunocal with a little wet food and water. He coaxed and coaxed her to eat, a little at a time. She started eating it, and he increased the Immunocal more and more. That will be 2 years ago...this coming March. Roxie fully recovered in a few months. The original Vet refused to believe it. She now jumps way high onto the counter every day to get her wet food, mixed with Immunocal. We do not use any food with any food colorings or wheat gluten. We never use any dry wheat food. Immunocal saved Roxie's life!

Rattlesnake Bite

A cat had been bit on the paw by a rattlesnake and was rushed to the vet. By the time they arrived, the cat’s paw and entire leg had swelled up about twice as large as normal. It was huge. The vet told her there was no hope, and the best thing that could be done was to make the little thing more comfortable. The vet expected the cat to expire that night. The cat's care taker would have none of that. She went back home, grabbed some Immunocal packets, and went back to the vet. She got special permission to go back where her cat was being kept, and she force-fed Immunocal to her little kitty every four hours. All the while, the vet told her how she was wasting her time. Well, she totally astonished the vet. Her cat pulled through and lived a long time afterwards.

Epileptic Seizure

"My Golden Lab had developed epileptic seizures. He would have 2-3 attacks a month. When I took him to the Vet, he said that the only thing he could do was prescribe him medications. But he said that my Lab would be constantly doped up with these meds. And, further, once you put the dog on these drugs you had to keep him on the medication. I decided that I would not go the drug route. I had been taking Immunocal myself, and decided to try it for my Golden Lab.

The seizures began to become less frequent. After a few months, he had only one seizure every 3 months. After a year on Immunocal he never had another seizure and he lived until he was 14 years old. My neighbor’s sister is a well-known homeopath in Quebec. Her Rottweiler had a very bad infection, which was even affecting his muscles and his ability to walk.

Of course, she tried all the homeopathic remedies for her dog, to no avail. Next, she went to a traditional Vet and tried the medication he prescribed. Nothing helped. I suggested Immunocal to her and she put her Rottweiler on the Platinum Immunocal. This was due to the fact that she thought it would help his muscle weakness more than the Original Immunocal. This homeopath said Immunocal was amazing! The dog recovered – the infection is completely gone. He has no limp and his muscles are strong! I have even given Immunocal to CHICKENS!" Patricia K. from Ottawa, Ontario