Here’s what you need to know about glutathione, what it does for your health, and how to make sure you’re getting what you need. Left unchecked, free radicals and oxidative stress contribute to a variety of health concerns, as well as the aging process4. You’ll find glutathione in every tissue and fluid throughout the body; it’s that important. Also unsurprising given its role in detoxification: The highest concentrations of glutathione in the body are found in the liver and kidneys. Glutathione also works to maintain the epithelial tissues (the lining found in organs like the intestines), which act as barriers between compounds ingested by the body and the bloodstream and are crucial for maintaining immune balance.* It even works to support the production of various cells that are essential for our immune response7, including T-cells and natural killer cells, both lymphocytes (aka white blood cells).* Of course, properly functioning epithelial tissue throughout the digestive tract is also important for the digestion and absorption of the nutrients we consume. Because of its interactions with the immune system10, healthy levels of glutathione contribute to the body’s overall balance or homeostasis, supporting an overall environment that’s favorable for maintaining long-term health.* In addition to eating a diet rich in produce and consciously raised animal proteins, Hyman also recommends including sulfur-rich foods like garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables (think broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and collard greens) in your daily diet. Since sulfur helps your body make glutathione, eating these foods regularly can contribute to keeping your levels in a good place. And since glutathione consists of three amino acids, it’s also important to eat adequate protein12, which ensures that your body has an ample pool of amino acids to produce glutathione from. That said, thanks to stressors, like poor diet and/or regular exposure to toxins through food, household products, or our environment, our daily demand for glutathione may be higher than what we can support through food, according to Hyman. Basically, the more stressed you are, the more glutathione your body uses up. Because of this, you may want to consider taking a glutathione supplement (more on that later) to ensure your body gets as much as it needs, he suggests.* Other important factors that come into play are exercise and sleep, since not getting enough of either is linked with lower glutathione levels, Hyman notes. So, if exercise isn’t already a daily habit, build up to 30 minutes of sweat-inducing aerobic activity every day and 20 minutes of strength training three times per week. As for sleep, seven to nine quality hours per night is a good, science-backed goal13. In fact, evidence from a groundbreaking clinical trial published in the European Journal Of Nutrition demonstrates that daily glutathione supplementation14 over six months in healthy adults is bioavailable to our bodies and effective at increasing levels in the circulation (aka, our blood).* Furthermore, this supplement regimen translates directly into elevated stores of this master antioxidant in red and white blood cells.* What’s more, these improvements in glutathione status in the body were accompanied by less oxidative stress14 and improved natural killer cell activity (hello, immune function).* In other words, a daily addition of targeted glutathione supplementation helps ensure our body compartment stores of this whole-body relevant tripeptide powerhouse remain sufficient enough to maximize whole-body antioxidant balance and immune health benefits.* With that in mind, know that just how much glutathione per day might be optimal for you varies greatly depending on individual factors, including the stressors you’re dealing with, your age, and lifestyle factors such as drinking and smoking habits. mbg formulated daily detox+ to not only provide 250 milligrams of vegan Setria® glutathione from microbial fermentation (which is clinically backed for bioavailability and efficacy14), but four additional powerhouse ingredients that support the body’s natural detoxification pathways as well: milk thistle, NAC, selenium, and acerola fruit vitamin C.* While each of these ingredients delivers specific detoxifying actions, the formula is intentionally synergistic, since all four support and elevate glutathione by promoting its production (milk thistle), bolstering its levels in the body (vitamin C), aiding in the activation of glutathione enzymes (selenium), and supporting glutathione’s replenishment (NAC).* She has written twelve books and has had more than 2,000 articles published across various websites. Lindsay currently works full time as a freelance health writer. She truly believes that you can transform your life through food, proper mindset and shared experiences. That’s why it’s her goal to educate others, while also being open and vulnerable to create real connections with her clients and readers.
