Health and Nutrition

From Cell to Super Cell - with Glutathione


Imagine you're a cell.

Inside your body runs the machinery that creates life itself. But as that machinery keeps running, day after day, you begin to get worn out - the friction and the processes that cause damage (here the "free-radicals" - highly destructive little entities generated by biochemical processes, as well as pollutants, UV radiation and other sources) start to create havoc and you begin to lose the battle to disease, old age and ultimately death.

In fact your battle would be over much sooner were it not for the numerous mechanisms that you and other mammalian cells evolved over millions of years, as protection from the injury that can result from your normal functional processes. The foremost among these internal protective systems is the "Glutathione antioxidant system."

Glutathione, a small molecule composed of three amino acids - glycine, glutamate and cysteine - acts as your cellular Super-Mop, soaking up "free-radicals" (with the help of the sulfur-containing portion of the cysteine molecule), protecting your cellular membranes and internal organs from the cascading destruction they can cause.

Besides being the major antioxidant that you produce as protection from "free-radicals," glutathione is also a very important detoxifying agent, enabling you to get rid of undesirable toxins and pollutants. If you were a liver, kidney or lung cell, you would contain high levels of glutathione, as you'd be exposed to the greatest levels of toxins.

Glutathione also helps you dispose of many cancer- producing chemicals, heavy metals, drug metabolites etc. that invade the pristine recesses of your cellular world. And Mother Nature (the first recycler) also designed you to use glutathione to recycle other well-known antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, keeping them in their active state.

If you were a cell delegated to the immune system department, you would require glutathione for many of the intricate steps needed to carry out your essential immune response functions - such as multiplying to make many clones of yourself, to mount a full-bodied immune response, or "neutralizing" undesirable elements of the cellular community, like cancerous or virally infected cells.

But your finicky cell membrane does not allow whole glutathione molecules to cross over directly into your cellular spaces. And every time a molecule of glutathione neutralizes a destructive free-radical or toxin, it fatally binds with the undesirable element and is washed out with them in the bile or the urine.

So how do you replenish your stores and get your daily fix of glutathione? Simple. You manufacture it in your cellular factory, from its raw materials - glycine, glutamate and cysteine.

If your human eats a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables and freshly prepared meats, you should get be getting enough glutamate and glycine. But cystine comes mostly from eggs, milk and cheese. And when eggs, milk and cheese are cooked or processed, the composition of Cystine is changed to Cysteine (small difference in spelling, but BIG difference in action). While still a valuable protein, it can no longer feed your glutathione levels.

If you can get a sufficient supply of cysteine (which determines the rate at which you can make glutathione), your arsenal is well- stocked. If not, you and your human are at a strategic disadvantage in the battle of "Cell v/s Free-radical Destroyers."

As a normal, healthy cell, increasing your glutathione levels could help you and your human maintain that strategic advantage in the battle against free-radicals. If you're not really in your prime, boosting your levels could tip the scales in your favor, and help you fight the cellular damage that causes disease and aging.

Copyright 2002 Priya Shah

_____________________________________________

About the author:
Priya Shah is the Editor of The Glutathione Report, a newsletter featuring regular updates on the health benefits of glutathione. Get a Free report on Glutathione in Health and Disease
____________________________________________


MORE RESOURCES:

TOM BRADY ROOKIES 2000 PARAMOUNT 2000 AURORA 2000 PACIFIC OMEGA 3 COMP. SETS
US $20.50 (4 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 7:02:53 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE ACTIVE - ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENT DRINK
US $85.02 (5 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 10:24:30 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE HEALTH JUICE PULSE 1 BOX 4 BOTTLES
US $45.00 (4 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 14:17:36 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE PULSE The bid price of Set of 4 for $85.00 F
US $85.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 16:01:07 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Nikon Omega 3-9x40 Matte BDC 250 Rifle Scope black powder
US $121.50 (4 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 17:41:11 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE ACTIVE CASE 4 BOTTLES SEALED IN BOX
US $67.03 (11 Bids)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 20:15:40 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE ACTIVE The bid price of Set of 4 for $85.00 C
US $85.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 7:02:50 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE 4 Active bottles - sealed
US $51.00 (9 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 8:00:28 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Monavie Vanilla Shake Mix
US $50.00 (10 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 10:22:57 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE
US $61.00 (3 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 16:01:19 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MEGA RED 100% PURE OMEGA-3 KRILL OIL 300 MG 117 SOFTGELS L@@K SHIPS FREE
US $25.49 (6 Bids)
End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 16:45:37 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Monavie Active - 1 Case (4 Bottles) Acia Mona Vie
US $75.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 9:02:57 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE ACTIVE CASE 4 BOTTLES SEALED IN BOX BEST BY 6/12
US $46.00 (12 Bids)
End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 20:15:16 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MonaVie Active 1 Case (4 Bottles) Fast Shipping
US $81.00 (1 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 4:53:40 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

MONAVIE RVL bundle - 1 month supply! Sealed in original box
US $54.00 (4 Bids)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 15:01:22 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list

Monavie - Active Premier Acai Blend Juice - 3 Bottles - Unopened - Original Box
US $24.50 (12 Bids)
End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 18:00:49 PST
Bid now | Add to watch list
home |       site map |      Disclaimer |       Privacy Policy
© 2006