Glutathione, or GSH, is a naturally occuring protein that protects every cell, tissue, and organ from toxic free radicals and disease.
It is a tripeptide of three amino acids - glycine, glutamate (glumatic acid), and cysteine.
These precursors or building blocks are necessary for the manufacture of GSH within the cells.
Your life depends upon GSH. "Without it, your cells would disintegrate from unrestrained oxidation, your body would have little resistance to bacteria, viruses and cancer, and your liver would shivel up from eventual accumulation of toxins." (Glutathione, Essential Health AID by Dr. Jimmy Gutman)
Glutathione's 3 major roles are:
Antioxidant, Immune Modulator, and Detoxifier - AID for the body.
Glutathione is the Master Antioxidant
"Healthy people also benefit from elevated levels of GSH through an enhanced ability to fight of toxins, infectious disease, pre-cancerous cells and the aging process." (Glutathione, Essential Health AID by Dr. Jimmy Gutman)
Your body's GSH levels CANNOT be raised by eating GSH, since it is poorly absorbed through the digestive system. Cells must make their own GSH. To do this, they require the building blocks - the essential amino acids.
Cysteine, although the most essential of the three, is the most difficult to obtain since it is lacking or deficient in most diets. Taking cysteine is ineffective since it is potentially toxic, and is spontaneously oxidized in the gastointestinal tract and the bloodstream, so most of it doesn't even reach the cells.
The only scientifically proven method found to raise GSH levels naturally in the body is by taking Immunocal, a product discovered by Dr. Gustavo Buonos of Immunotec Research.
Still sceptical? Click here to read an article written by one of the leaders in GSH research.