Boost Glutathione Levels to Prevent Cellular Oxidation
Glutathione Protects Against Oxidation from Toxins & Testosterone Treatments
“While testosterone may be beneficial under conditions of low oxidative stress, testosterone appears to have negative consequences under conditions of elevated oxidative stress, but only in Caucasians. Mexican-Americans, however, were protected from any deleterious effects of testosterone, potentially due to higher levels of endogenous antioxidant defenses such as Glutathione.” Continue reading…
The article quoted above is very important in view of the recent reports associating heart attacks with testosterone treatment for low testosterone. As predicted, heart attacks are reported to be more likely in men whose arteries are oxidized. Too much excitement will then stress said arteries leading to spasms and even clotting.
This article suggests that men check their levels of antioxidants when considering treatment with testosterone. They recommend checking homocysteine, the oxidant that goes up when we lack B vitamins; these vitamins are involved in maintaining the lining of our arteries in good repair.
How to Test for Oxidation
Other laboratory markers for oxidation that could be checked are GGT, methylmalonic acid, myeloperoxidase and CRP. The GGT is particularly important. Even in people in the upper quartile of normal it signals a deficiency in the antioxidant glutathione, which the researchers also focused on.
As previously discussed, glutathione is extremely important to keep ALL cells from oxidizing, particularly in the brain, liver and arteries. To keep healthy glutathione levels, eat fruits and veggies, cocoa and consider supplements like alpha lipoic acid (600 mg), and the amino acid N-acetyl-cysteine (600mg). Milk thistle and whey also increase glutathione.
Thus, glutathione has also been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Think of your brain getting oxidized, which increases the risk of neurodegeneration:
“With millions of older individuals presently suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) worldwide, AD is an unduly common form of dementia that exacts a heavy toll from affected individuals and their families. One of the emerging causative factors associated with AD pathology is oxidative stress. This AD-related increase in oxidative stress has been attributed to decreased levels of the brain antioxidant, glutathione (GSH). In this article, we review the role of GSH in AD from a pathological as well as a diagnostic point of view. We recapitulate the literature that has assessed the role of GSH in AD onset and progression. We discuss the various methodologies through which alterations in GSH levels might be monitored, and highlight the yet uncharted potential of assaying GSH levels in vivo with magnetic resonance spectroscopy in AD therapeutics and prognostics. Finally, the present manuscript integrates findings from various studies to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms through which disruptions in GSH homeostasis may contribute to AD pathology.”
Coffee Boosts Glutathione Levels
If you like coffee here is another reason to drink it: it increases levels of glutathione. But, do not drink more than two cups a day since it may affect cardiovascular system negatively.