Antioxidants – your key to good health
We are all aware of the two major vitamin antioxidants C and E. Most of us have probably taken them as a supplement at some stage in our lives. Vitamin C is essential for our skin by helping repair and maintain tissue, support our immune system and, in its role as an antioxidant, fight free radicals. Vitamin E is a collective term for a group of eight fat-soluble compounds whose major function is to protect our cell membranes from attack by free radicals.
Another vital antioxidant you may have heard of is alpha-lipoic acid. It also serves as a free radical scavenger and is used to treat nerve pain in diabetics. It is a little-known fact, however, that it also helps recycle Vitamin C and E.
But are you aware that your body produces a far more important antioxidant that regenerates all three?
Glutathione, the great recycler!
Glutathione's reputation as the "Master Antioxidant" is well deserved. Here are just a few of the functions it performs inside your cells:
- Recycles Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and alpha-lipoic acid
- Mops up free radicals before they can damage tissues
- Neutralizes environmental toxins
- Limits the damage done by stress, alcohol, and smoking
- Helps your body recover faster after intense exercise
- Supports recovery from acute and chronic diseases
Interestingly, glutathione regenerates other antioxidants after they have performed their function as free radical scavengers, or, in other words, once they have exhausted their capabilities.
The method by which glutathione performs this feat is somewhat complicated but also well understood. One crucial point, however, is that glutathione can only perform this function inside our cells. So it is important to raise glutathione levels inside cells, also known as cellular glutathione levels.
So, glutathione's high status is without question, but if we were looking to elevate our glutathione levels, how can we ensure it occurs inside our cells?
Do I need to supplement my glutathione?
When we are young and healthy, glutathione usually is plentiful in our cells. However, there are many conditions that can make us vulnerable to glutathione levels falling below optimal. The list is long, but some of the important conditions include:
- The aging process
- Intense exercise
- Bad lifestyle habits
- Certain medications, infectious diseases, and pollution
- Persistent health problems resulting in discomfort
At some point in our lives, we will all benefit from raising our glutathione levels, even if it's just because we are getting older. Many supplements claim to increase glutathione but not inside our cells where it actually matters. After all, glutathione only does its recycling magic inside our cells.
Taking many supplements or just one – it's your choice!
Of course, we can go out and buy a whole range of vitamins and other antioxidants and throw good money after bad. Apart from the inconvenience of taking many pills, this may not be such a good idea.
For example, Vitamin C is often sold in megadoses, implying more is better. In reality, our body only needs a small amount to function optimally. Excess Vitamin C is excreted via our urine, and we are literally flushing our money down the drain.
Vitamin E is not without its pitfalls either. Being fat-soluble, it can accumulate in our fatty tissues and may significantly elevate our health risk. In high doses, it can cause blood thinning and may increase the risk of prostate cancer.
It is very tricky to get the balance right. Although our typical diets should provide us with all the daily required amounts of antioxidants, stress, illness, exercise, and just getting older can mean we don't absorb as much as we need. But herein lies the problem because we just don't know if and when we may need more.
Getting the balance right
Since the glutathione in our cells takes care of any deficiencies in Vitamin C, E, and alpha-lipoic acid, there is actually no need to take these supplements individually. This takes the guesswork and worry about possible side effects out of our lives and saves us money in the process.
All we need is a reliable, quick and safe way to supplement our cellular glutathione levels. This will ensure we are never short on important antioxidants at whatever stage of life we are in. Setting us up on a path of good health is, after all, what we all desire. But clinical studies have proven that there is only one ingredient that can do that: Glyteine®!
The glutathione conundrum
The scientific literature is full of studies that have investigated the possibilities of increasing glutathione inside our cells. Researchers know how important glutathione supplementation is, hence the great interest. Yet, despite all this effort, the “holy grail,” so to speak, has never been found.
The reason for this is simple. Taking glutathione itself or any other products on the market claiming to do so does not work. Companies have come up with fancy words and rehashed products for glutathione such as ‘liposomal' or ‘intranasal' to sway our opinion, but it's all just glutathione. These products may increase glutathione in our blood, but it does not enter our cells where it's needed.
A solution had actually been discovered in the form of the glutathione precursor called gamma-glutamylcysteine. Until now, however, it had not been possible to produce this compound on a viable commercial scale.
Solving the glutathione conundrum
Over many years, scientists at the University of New South Wales in Australia have finally been able to perfect a method to produce gamma-glutamylcysteine on a commercial scale: The result: Glyteine®, a proprietary name for gamma-glutamylcysteine.
A safe and effective way to supplement glutathione is now available to the public. The Glyteine® in the Continual-G® range of products increases glutathione levels fast with a single dose.
It dispenses with the need to juggle a range of antioxidants, ushering in a new era of health from within.