What the Heck Is Glutathione? Your Guide to This Immunity and Detox Powerhouse

Do your daily stress levels feel like they’re at an all-time high? Here’s one powerful way to stay resilient: Get more antioxidants in your life. Glutathione, also called “GSH” or the “master antioxidant,” is an easy way to protect your cells to help stop the free radical chain reactions caused by diet and stress. Learn more about glutathione benefits, glutathione supplementation and how this master antioxidant helps keep you balanced.

What is glutathione?

Your body uses glutathione to eliminate toxins, strengthen immunity and protect your cells from the free radicals caused by diet and stress.

Despite the similar names, glutathione is different than the amino acids glutamate (a form of glutamic acid) and glutamine. Almost every cell in your body makes glutathione from the amino acids L-glutamine, L-cysteine (NAC) and L-glycine. Your cells keep the same amount of energy (glucose) on hand as they do glutathione—it’s that important to cell survival.^[1]

Glutathione benefits almost every system in your body. It helps stop the chain reactions created by free radicals and the oxidative stress that breaks down your cellular walls. This means glutathione supports a healthy inflammation response, shields fats from oxidation, helps build muscle, supports energy-producing mitochondria, strengthens immunity and supports brain health.^{[2] [3] [4]} Talk about a wellness powerhouse!

Some people may take glutathione for specific medical conditions under the care of their healthcare provider or integrative medicine practitioner, but anyone can benefit from a glutathione supplement.

The bottom line: Glutathione is an antioxidant with big health benefits. It strengthens your immunity by protecting your cells from side effects of oxidative damage. This means glutathione builds your resiliency.

Glutathione benefits for immunity, anti-aging and more

You may know that berries are full of antioxidants, as are cruciferous vegetables, coffee, grass-fed butter, fish and many other foods. But glutathione is different because it benefits your body in more ways than one, providing powerful antioxidant and detox support to eliminate toxins.

Detoxification of free radicals

Think of glutathione as one of your body’s natural detox agents. This powerful antioxidant becomes a cofactor for dozens of detox enzymes that neutralize damaging free radicals.^[5] The largest stash of glutathione is found in your liver, which uses glutathione to remove heavy metals, free radicals and other toxins.^[6]

The modern world can be toxic, especially if you’re breathing in city air and working a stressful job. Stressful daily life can quickly drain your glutathione stores, leading to glutathione deficiency.^[7] When the world zaps your glutathione stores, you can boost your levels through glutathione supplementation to help keep you resilient.

One way to reliably get those glutathione benefits: Take a quality glutathione supplement like Bulletproof Glutathione Force.

Defends your immune system and boosts strength

Glutathione helps regulate your immune system, keeping you from feeling run-down so you can thrive. This powerful antioxidant also helps vitamin C and vitamin E to be recycled and reused, making this power trio more effective at supporting a healthy inflammation response.

Toxin overload can make it more difficult to sleep, depriving your body of the opportunity to cleanse those toxins and recharge your energy. Glutathione can help your liver remove sleep-interfering toxins. Once you get some good sleep, your body can, in turn, detox even more.^{[8] [9]}

Glutathione may also help you get the most from exercise. In a pilot study involving humans, supplemental glutathione was associated with an improved recovery marker and decreased fatigue after aerobic exercise.^[10]

Pro tip: Give your immune system additional support with Bulletproof Immune Defense Collagen Protein Packets. Not only do they contain vitamins C and D, but they also have collagen protein to support healthy skin, bones and joints.†

Protects cells with anti-aging powers

Free radicals are a driving mechanism behind the effects of aging. So, it’s no surprise that antioxidants can help combat the effects of aging.^[11]

Age may affect the body’s production of glutathione. Rodent models suggest lower levels of glutathione over time, which can contribute to age-related health problems.^[12]

Glutathione benefits on skin can help you fight the signs of aging, too. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, women given dietary supplements to increase glutathione levels showed a significant reduction in wrinkles and increased skin elasticity.^[13]

Related: 13 Anti-Aging Supplements to Turn You Into Benjamin Button

Do glutathione pills work?

Foods like green veggies contain trace amounts of glutathione. Sulfur-containing foods like cruciferous veggies and garlic can help build glutathione, and consistent exercise can boost it. And when you eat more protein, you’ll give your body the raw materials to build more glutathione (plus, animal proteins like beef and eggs are sources of quality fats and cholesterol—find out why fat is a good thing).

The thing is, it’s tough to get reliable amounts of glutathione from diet alone. To get consistent, efficacious doses of this rockstar antioxidant, do your body a favor and take a glutathione supplement.

Types of glutathione supplements

There are many ways to boost low levels of glutathione, such as glutathione infusions, intravenous glutathione or oral glutathione. You can even supplement with the building blocks of glutathione: the amino acids L-glutamine, L-cysteine and L-glycine. If you take N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), you’re also supporting natural glutathione production.^[14]

But taking a targeted glutathione supplement provides your body with all the pieces it needs for glutathione synthesis. Bulletproof Glutathione Force uses a proprietary liposomal delivery system, which means it’s easier for your body to absorb.

Take Glutathione Force to combat environmental or work stress, or when you start to deal with that “worn down” feeling and want to feel like a more resilient you. Get Bulletproof Glutathione Force now.

This is an updated version of an article originally published November 2016.