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Glutathione: The Body’s Master Antioxidant
A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Your Waistline
When discussing health and nutrition, we often talk about antioxidants and free radicals (molecules with an unpaired electron). You may hear experts and influencers use the word “glutathione” in relation to these two things, too…but what is it, exactly, and what does it do? I got you.
Glutathione is naturally made by our bodies but can also be found in some foods — we’ll touch on that later. It’s a tripeptide, which means it’s made of 3 amino acids: glycine, cystine, and glutamine. Primarily, glutathione is synthesized in the liver, but we can also find it in every cell in the body, where it contributes to DNA synthesis and repair. It also assists with protein production, amino acid transport, enzyme activation, and other functions of the cell. It’s often referred to as the body’s master antioxidant because it’s used in so many different ways, including: detoxification, liver activity, cell-to-cell signaling, aging, and immune function. Phew! That’s a lot for a little molecule.
Reduced glutathione (the active form) can impact the oxidation of cells on a cellular and mitochondrial level. We may also know this active form as GSH or L-glutathione. The inactive form is called oxidized glutathione and we may see it alternatively referred to as GSSG. Essentially, glutathione…
