Fall is one of my very favorite seasons, and yet, for some, it can be a dreaded time of year. The pressure of the holidays can hit more than our pocketbook. Colds and flus can take the beauty out of the colors of our fall leaves and turn them into reminders of our bodies annual troubles. One of the BEST defenses against these seemingly habitual troubles is a strong offensive plan.
Glutathione is one of the most important elements within the body’s system that fights oxidative stress (remember that oxidative stress creates an environment where cancer and other disease-causing FREE radicals can thrive). The majority of GSH (reduced L-Glutathione) is produced in the human liver, and is the body’s master antioxidant and detoxifying agent. 80% of people with chronic ailments are GSH deficient.
Oxidative Stress
Oxidative Stress occurs if there is an increase in oxidant production (free radicals) exceeding GSH’s available stores and capabilities. Oxidative stress is destructive to all human tissue. Oxidative stress has been implicated in over 250 diseases. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) damage includes: protein damage, DNA damage resulting in mutations, lipid peroxidation and cellular signaling damage. The toll to the human body results in an acceleration in aging and disease.
What does the Body Use Glutathione for?
The amino acid glutamine plays a key role in the metabolism, structure, and function of the entire gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and its extensive immune system. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in blood, and is a vehicle for nitrogen transport. In muscle, lung and other tissues, glutamine is formed from glutamic acid and ammonia through amino acid breakdown. The GI tract, liver, and immune system use glutamine for the synthesis of nucleotides, proteins, and amino sugars. Glutamine also carries potentially toxic ammonia to the kidneys for excretion, which helps maintain normal acid-base balance.
Many clinical studies support the fact that dietary and endogenous glutamine is crucial in maintaining normal function of the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and pancreas. Glutamine helps maintain normal intestinal permeability, mucosal cell regeneration and structure, especially during periods of physiological stress.
The human intestinal tract removes as much as 12-13% of circulating blood glutamine in addition to the glutamine absorbed from dietary origin. Intestinal mucosal cells need glutamine as a nitrogen donor for the biosynthesis of a number of important compounds, including nucleotides needed for cell division, amino sugars for building the glycosaminoglycans of intestinal mucous, and many amino acids that are crucial for protein synthesis.
During physiological stress, such as starvation, physical trauma, or surgery, the intestinal tract uses very large amounts of glutamine. This often results in a fall of blood glutamine, and skeletal muscle is broken down to supply more glutamine. The immune cells of mucosa, mesentery and the liver depend on glutamine as a key nitrogen donor and energy source. During infections of intestinal origin, immune cells need more glutamine and the liver’s glutamine consumption can rise about ten-fold. Just as in trauma or surgery, a strong immune response can result in lower blood glutamine levels and muscle wasting.
Many clinical studies support the fact that dietary glutamine is crucial in maintaining normal function of the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the liver and pancreas. Glutamine helps maintain normal intestinal permeability, mucosal cell regeneration, and structure. At the same time, glutamine supports normal immune function of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver.
For those who wish to support their digestive tract: L-Glutamine + FOS powder, supplied by Douglas Laboratories®, provides 2,500 mg of pure L-glutamine (U.S.P.) with 1,500 mg of FOS, prebiotic fructo- oligosaccharides per teaspoon.
Prebiotics are carbohydrates that have short molecular chains. They function as non-digestible ingredients that can positively affect selected groups of beneficial intestinal microflora, such as lactobacillus. While probiotics merely add beneficial microflora, prebiotics affect the intestinal environment so that beneficial colonies of microflora can flourish. By aiding the beneficial microflora’s survival, pathogenic microflora can have a decreased chance of survival.
To order this product click here: http://straightnutrition.com/products/l-glutamine-fos-powder/
For those who have difficulty with absorption: TransGSH, supplied by Sabre Sciences, provides 225 mg per application of Reduced L-Glutathione directly into your bloodstream. Sabre’s transdermal GSH is applied topically, bi-passing the digestive tract, and can easily restore and maintain intracellular GSH concentrations in all areas of the body, including the brain, where it can neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and lipid hydroperoxides (LHP). The regulatory capabilities of GSH can down regulate excessive inflammatory factors, and relevant interleukins via GSH control over the Redox Potential (ORP). GSH controls Redox processes which in turn regulate numerous Proteins and Genes that are disturbed in diseases and are sensitive to changes to Oxygen levels, Acidity, Temperature, and Blood Flow.
To order your transdermal creme click here: http://straightnutrition.com/products/transgsh-reduced-l-glutathione/
This may seem like greek to you so let me break this down very simply. Your liver goes through two natural detoxification processes. They call them phase I and phase II. BOTH phases require the use of glutathione to work all the way through. If you do not have enough glutamine for your body to go all the way through these natural detoxification phases, your body begins the process of accumulating toxins rather than getting rid of them. Over time, this can make you feel very sick and tired and it creates a weight on your immune system. If you wonder, why do I get sick when no one around me does? Perhaps you need to work on building and strengthening your immune system so it can work for you. You can’t expect your car to operate at peak performance if you starve it of its basic oil and gas.
Health has never been easier than this~
Debi
