It is the secret weapon against aging, cancer, autism, and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. While it is produced naturally in your body, high levels of stress, pollution, and a poor diet all cause a sharp depletion in the master of antioxidants. “What is it?” you ask. Why, it is Glutathione, of course!
Glutathione is a substance that can be injected, infused, and ingested without any known side effects. It may be used as an anti-aging product, skin whitener, or for disease prevention. This potent antioxidant is unfamiliar to many people, but has been used for quite a while in integrative health practices and beauty treatments.
Physical education teacher, Ms. Robin Cooper, is a survivor of breast cancer and receives glutathione infusions to maintain her health after the treatments. Our bodies naturally generate this chemical, but it is not enough for those who have been exposed to excessive radiation. To compensate for this imbalance, glutathione may be consumed to reduce the abundance of free radicals.
Ms. Cooper has been receiving glutathione infusions intravenously for the past six months after it was recommended to her by Mitchell Gaynor, a leader in integrative oncology. Integrative health is a practice that combines western medicine with more natural approaches, such as massage therapy and herbal remedies. She claims that she has never experienced any negative side effects from glutathione and feels “more energetic” and “less fatigued” as a direct result because “it has detox and anti-aging properties.”
Glutathione is a natural substance produced within our bodies by amino acids. It is associated with the immune and nervous system and helps maintain vitamins C and E in their active forms. This substance is also used to prevent illnesses that often result at an older age, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Most importantly, as one of the most effective antioxidants, it helps rid the body of free radicals.
Due to its youth preserving properties, Glutathione is used as a beauty product. It can lighten skin tone by reversing the metabolism of melanin, the color pigment in our skin, and turning the dark pigments into lighter ones. Thus, Glutathione has been sold and advertised as a skin whitener.
Like most substances, Glutathione is stronger and produces quicker and more direct results when injected rather than ingested. Glutathione pills, self injections, and patches may be purchased from vitamin stores, health centers, and online websites.
“I do believe Glutathione should be more commonly used, although insurance companies do not cover it. It’s preventative medicine and integrative,” said Ms. Cooper.