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Cell Protector Extraordinaire

by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Published 03/05/09

Picture our planet 3.5 billion years ago, when life was in its infancy. The environment was hardly hospitable. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane made up the bulk of the atmosphere, and temperatures reached unimaginable extremes. The earliest organisms had to develop protective mechanisms in order to survive and thrive, and one of those ways, according to some scientists, was glutathione. 

This small protein is found in most living cells today and is especially concentrated in animal cells. And just as it protected ancient species, it protects us against toxins and free radicals as well. 

Glutathione Rounds Up Toxins... 

Glutathione is one of the body's most critical detoxification agents. It deals directly with fat-soluble toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents, converting them into water-soluble forms that can be eliminated by the kidneys. High levels of glutathione are found in the lungs, where it lassos the toxins in smoke, smog, and other airborne pollutants. But it is particularly concentrated in the liver, your body's primary organ for detoxification. 

As long as adequate glutathione stores are available, liver detox proceeds without a hitch. However, when stores are low-because of exposure to toxins, dietary inadequacies, or diseases that cause glutathione depletion-you run the risk of liver damage and susceptibility to toxin-induced diseases. 

This is best exemplified by the alcohol warnings on the labels of Tylenol and other drugs containing acetaminophen. This combo is potentially deadly because both substances deplete glutathione and, when taken together, can overwhelm the detox process and cause massive liver destruction. 

...And Fends Off Free Radicals 

An equally important aspect of glutathione is that it is a very potent antioxidant. Oxidative stress, which occurs when the production of free radicals outpaces the ability of antioxidants to neutralize them, is the root of virtually all degenerative diseases. 

Glutathione forms antioxidant enzymes that protect cellular membranes. It goes to work inside the cells to neutralize free radicals that threaten the mitochondria. It guards against the free radical damage generated by toxins in the liver and lungs. It is also highly active in the brain and is likely the brain's most important antioxidant. 

Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immune dysfunction, and cancer: All of these conditions are marked by high levels of oxidative stress and suboptimal levels of glutathione. In fact, glutathione is a reasonably good marker of health-the higher your level, the better your state of health. 

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