Crucial role of Glutathione as the body’s Master Antioxidant

Crucial role of Glutathione as the body’s Master AntioxidantAntioxidants play a very important role in maintaining our good health. Our body’s master antioxidant is Glutathione which protects the living cells from all the free radicals and toxins that enter into our body through the environmental pollutants present in the water we drink, the food we eat and even the air that we breathe in.Glutathione is made up of three protein building blocks, called amino acids (glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine). It is produced by every living cell of our body. It is not only the body’s master antioxidant but is also the body’s immune booster and detoxifier.The cells of our body produce glutathione so that it can protect all the living cells of the body from the harm caused by the free radicals. The presence of sufficient amount of glutathione in the body is very essential, especially in the organs like liver and brain, so that the different diseases do not develop.Being the body’s master antioxidant, glutathione reduces the free radicals present in our body and also prevents the destruction and the deterioration of the living cells caused by them. If there is a glutathione deficiency in the body different problems like stress, tremor, sleeplessness, loss of memory etc. start to develop.Glutathione levels may drop in the body due to various reasons like increasing age or development of certain diseases. MaxGXL helps to increase the glutathione level in the body by helping the body cells to increase the glutathione production on an average of 200%.MaxGXL is the only glutathione nutraceutical that can be quantified and verified. MaxGXL has the components of glutathione that cause the body to produce it. MaxGXL is not glutathione itself, as ingesting glutathione will not yield any results, it will just be flushed from the body.

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Free radiclas

Free radicals lead to development and progression of many brain disorders like brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases etc. Glutathione being the brain's master antioxidant plays an important role in protecting the brain from these free radicals and the harm caused by them.

Studies have shown that among all the organs present in our body, our brain is most vulnerable to attack of free radicals as it generates more oxidative by-products than any other organ in the body. Glutathione deficiency in the brain leads to the progression of many neurological and psychiatric diseases caused by these free radicals.

Generation of reactive free radicals and oxidative damage are the main causes responsible for death of brain cells due to brain injury. Presence of good levels of glutathione in the brain prevents the death of cells from brain injury.

Studies have suggested that, the cells in males and females react in different ways to the brain injuries. After a brain injury, the glutathione level was found to remain constant in the case of females but was found to drop by 80% in case of males with the same brain injury.

The death rate of brain cells become faster when there is depletion in the glutathione level. Therefore, it is suggested that the males with a brain injury will be subjected to shorter survival period compared to females with the same brain injury.

Improved glutathione level can help patients with brain injuries to prevent death of brain cells and also help to improve the longevity.

MaxGXl will help the body to manufacture on the average of 200% more glutathione, which helps the brain cells to rebuild themselves much more quickly.

Research scientists at the Buck Institute have discovered that mice with less of the natural antioxidant glutathione,

NaturalNews) Research scientists at the Buck Institute have discovered that mice with less of the natural antioxidant glutathione, particularly in their dopamine-producing neurons, become crippled by nerve damage. In fact, the mice developed symptoms that match up very well with Parkinson’s disease in human beings. In order to perform the experiment, scientists first created mice that could be triggered chemically to greatly reduce the amount of glutathione in their dopamine-creating neurons, which then resulted in the Parkinson-like symptoms.

This new discovery might call into question the current pharmaceutical approach to Parkinson's Disease; which doses patients with dopamine equivalents, or with drugs that boost dopamine's effect (as a former prescription drug, Methamphetamine, or “Crystal Meth” does). Unfortunately, these Parkinson's drugs also have been found to cause many of the effects that are also seen with Methamphetamine, such as gambling and other impulse-control problems. Now it seems that the underlying problem may not really be dopamine.

Antioxidants keep our cells clean by combining with and eliminating very dangerous reactive molecules that can cause random changes in proteins, resulting in cancer, heart disease or other chronic illnesses. Those random changes are often referred to as “oxidative stress” and cause inflammation as well. This new research shows that natural antioxidants are important in maintaining nerve cell function, too.

The good news is that you can boost your levels of natural antioxidants rather easily without prescription drugs in several ways. So if this new research holds up, by boosting your natural levels of antioxidants, you may be protecting yourself against Parkinson's Disease as well as cancer, infection, and much more.

Glutathione is probably the second most important antioxidant that our bodies make - melatonin is the most important, and by far the least costly to make use of, energetically. Vitamin C would come in third. Consistent sleep in true darkness is the best prescription to boost your melatonin; but of course, supplements of melatonin are also widely sold. Doses much less than the standard 3mg are now recommended however, since too much melatonin can slop over into daytime and confuse your clock and immune system. As well, it has been suggested that taking melatonin supplements may cause a decline in your own natural production of this critical antioxidant and night-time hormone.

A relatively new and easy approach to increasing melatonin production naturally, based on recent chronobiological research is to wear orange-tinted glasses (low blue light eyewear) for an hour or two in the morning and at night. By cutting out exposure to blue light, our bodies think it's night, and begin to produce melatonin. Since about ten hours of darkness (or low blue light) in which to produce melatonin are ideal, blocking blue light means more of the critical antioxidant melatonin, for better health. Experiments by researchers at the Lighting Innovations Institute of John Carroll University have shown this approach to be effective for fertility, depression, bipolar disorder, and other medical problems.

Many antioxidant food and nutritional supplements, such as lipoic acid, wolfberries (goji berries) and pomegranates have also been shown to have beneficial effects on health, by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

We all have plenty of glutathione in each of our cells, however most of it isn't charged up and ready for use at any given moment - in fact a standard medical measure of “oxidative stress” is whether at least ten percent of the glutathione in our cells is charged up and ready to be used, if needed. Glutathione isn't usually recommended as a nutritional supplement itself because it isn't easily absorbed by the gut. However its “precursor”, the amino acid cysteine, is available.

For most of us in the modern world, the likely reason for having insufficient glutathione in the active form is that we aren't getting enough melatonin at night. Better sleep hygiene and more darkness, as well as more regular bedtimes, are a great way to start. Food or supplements rich in natural antioxidants are also valuable - and you can start today.

I found this article at the link below.

http://www.naturalnews.com/022609.html

Role of glutathione in cellular resistance to alkylating agents

Both elevated glutathione levels and increased activity of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase have been associated with the resistance of cells to alkylating agents.

We have demonstrated that one mechanism of this resistance is the inactivation of the alkylating agents by conjugation with glutathione.

This conjugation can be catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. For the nitrogen mustard agents we have studied, both the spontaneous and enzyme catalyzed reactions proceed through the aziridinium intermediates of the alkylating agents, and the [alpha] isoenzymes of GST are involved.

In a study of cyclophosphamide resistant medulloblastoma cell lines elevated cellular concentrations of glutathione correlated well with the resistance of the cell lines.

by: Michael O Colvin, Henry S Friedman, Michael P Gamcsik, Catherine Fenselau, John Hilton
Advances in Enzyme Regulation, Vol. 33 (1993), pp. 19-26

Glutathione more information

Glutathione is produced by the cells of our body. It is the natural antioxidant which is most abundantly present in our body. Glutathione, also known as GSH, is responsible for the protection of our vision, boosting our immune system, turning carbohydrates into energy and preventing the building up of oxidized fats that may cause atherosclerosis.

Glutathione is composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. Although glutathione is found in every part of our body, it is mainly found in the lungs, liver and the intestinal track. Largest amount of glutathione is produced and stored in the liver as there it is used to detoxify harmful compounds so that they can be flushed out of the body easily. The red and the white blood cells in the bloodstream receive supplies of glutathione directly from the lever. Due to this the blood cells remain healthy and strengthen the immune system. Besides all these, glutathione is also known to have an anti-aging affect on the body.

With the increasing age, the glutathione levels in the body decreases. Due to lack of glutathione the immune system weakens and thus the body becomes prone to illnesses. Energy level also comes down. Low levels of glutathione have a destructive effect on the nervous system also. Therefore to avoid any illness it is necessary to increase the production of glutathione in the body.

Glutathione if taken orally does not get absorbed by the body. MAXGXL Glutathione accelerator helps to accelerate the production of glutathione in our body naturally. Therefore, MAXGXL helps to increase the energy levels and also helps to strengthen the immune system of our body.

Glutathione used for Parkinsons, Austism and Schizophrenia

DR. WEEKS’  COMMENT:   Glutathione, optimally given intravenously (IV),  is very beneficial for a number of degenerative illnesses such as MS, ALS,  Parkinson’s, Autism and Schizophrenia.  If your doctor won’t give you IV glutathione,  ask him or her to call us here at the Weeks Clinic for more scientific support. 

We now offer an oral version which is liposomally stabilized glutathione. While not as  potent as the IV version, it is very many of our patients concerned with protecting cognitive function (memory etc.) as well as for protecting cardiac function.

More infromation on this article.

http://weeksmd.com/?p=458

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Max International in Magazine

Your Business at Home is a National Newsstand Magazine distributed monthly at book stores such as Barnes and Noble, Borders, Hastings, Book-A-Million and B. Dalton. Hailed by direct sales industry veterans as a "magic wand" the magazine provides excellent third-party validation of the direct selling industry. Each issue features only one company, and the content is devoted to that company's story.

Max International will be featured in the February 2,008 Issue. The selection process is stringent. For a company to be chosen it needs an incredible product, which provides a great business opportunity for its representatives. It is a prestigious honor to be selected.

It will feature an in-depth look at Max International, our mission of changing peoples lives, our unique product and many people who have had success through the company's unique approach to building wealth and wellness.

The magazine will also include a new DVD which will include:
The Max Opportunity
Max GXL Product Overvue
Steven K. Scott Shares the Max Vision
Max Compensation Plan

Antioxidant Formula and the Key to Healthy Living

Antioxidant formula, can there be such a thing? We all want a short cut to any good achievement or success but we soon realize that the only way to achieve something is the right way; slowly but steadily.

Antioxidant formula is advertised all over the place by many, but few or none possess the whole range of antioxidants that your body requires to perform at its best.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are chemical substances found mainly in plants, fruits, and vegetables, and they serve our body's defense against illness and aging, which are caused mainly by free radicals in our bodies.

Recent studies have shown that free radicals are liked to a number of diseases such as cancer, arthritis, heart disease and aging. The right antioxidant formula can and will prevent these diseases and fight against the aging process.

Read rest of article at

http://www.healthsessions.info/antioxidant-formula-and-the-key-to-healthy-living/

Glutathione can eliminate Toxins in the liver

L-glutathione Can Eliminate Toxins In The Liver

by Darrell Miller
L-glutathione is the reduced form of glutathione, and is a tripeptide synthesized in the animal and plant tissues from glycine, cysteine and glutamate. Commonly known as GSH, it contains thiol groups that are maintained in a reduced state, and is a very powerful antioxidant, considered to be the key antioxidant and protective substance in the body.

Glutathione can reduce any disulfide groups in the cytoplasm within the body of the cell, and ensures that the cytoplasm is a strongly reducing medium protecting against oxidation. It has a synergistic effect with other antioxidants to protect the body against free radicals and oxidizing agents that cause so much damage to the body through what is commonly referred to as ‘oxidative stress’. However, there is more to it than that and it attaches itself to toxic chemicals and drugs in the liver and renders them into a state suitable for elimination from the body.

These toxic materials include poisonous pesticides, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and chromium and many other substances that we come into contact with due to present day pollution of our atmosphere and foodstuffs. Glutathione can also help protect the body from the effects of chemotherapy and evidence is suggesting possible links with the control of some cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis and many other degenerative conditions caused by free radical attack and the effects of pollutants.

The way that GSH acts in the cells is that the redox state of the glutathione-glutathione disulfide couple is critical to the health of the intercellular and intracellular fluid. GSH in the reduced state of glutathione reacts with an oxidative agent such as hydrogen peroxide to form the oxidized form, glutathione disulfide and water. It hence mops up oxidizers such as peroxides and free radicals within the cytoplasm of the body’s cells, and also in between the cells. The disulfide is then converted back to GSH by the combined action of the enzyme glutathione reductase and NADPH (the reducing agent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).

The cycle then repeats so that two molecules of glutathione continue to reduce damaging oxidizing agents without themselves being consumed. In so doing, the NADPH becomes oxidized. A continuous supply of NADPH is needed to allow GSH to undergo these biochemical reactions, and up to 10% of our blood glucose is used by the pentose phosphate pathway by which NADPH is synthesized.

Since this cycle consumes no glutathione, it would appear that a supplement is unnecessary. However, this is not the case since the molecule takes part in other reactions in the body, particularly in the elimination of toxic heavy metals from the body. Mercury is highly reactive with the thiol that GSH is, and so will bind to form a stable Hg-sulfydryl bond in the liver. This mercury-glutathione chelate is unable to bind to other proteins or gain access to the body cells, and is eventually harmlessly secreted. The same is true of many other heavy metals that are reactive with thiol’s.

In this way the body is protected from the harmful effects of these heavy metals. However, it results in the loss of the glutathione, and the pollution of modern day living can take a heavy toll of the GSH content of our bodies. For this reason a glutathione supplement is recommended, especially for city dwellers that may be exposed to more heavy metals than those residing in rural areas.

However, the form in which this supplement is taken is very important, because the human digestive tract contains a significant amount of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. That is an enzyme which apparently destroys glutathione before it can be absorbed. However, it can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream by dissolving the pill between the teeth and inner cheek. It has also been suggestion that the supplement could be administered by injection.

Others have suggested that rather than administer a supplement, individuals could take other supplements that contain the materials needed to stimulate the formation of GSH. Substances such as vitamin C, selenium (important in GSH biochemistry), methionine, alpha-lipoic acid and glutamine could all help to increase the body’s production of glutathione. A supplement of the constituent parts of cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid should also help. The dosage ranges recommended vary widely from 50mg to 500mg daily, and the effects of supplementation are not yet well know.

Some specific conditions that this wonder antioxidant is useful in treating include liver disease such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and so on. Patients suffering from these diseases show a massive reduction in their GSH content and prior GSH treatment appeared to offer a significant degree of protection in controlled clinical investigations. Patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C have been found to be associated with reduced GSH levels, particularly if also HIV positive.

Similar deficiencies have been noted in some lung conditions such as asthma and other pulmonary conditions. In such cases it has been demonstrated that administration of GSH supplements sufficient to restore normal levels of the substance improved the patients’ conditions by a significant amount. Its effect on atherosclerosis appears to be significant since a decreased level of GSH peroxidase has been recorded in such patients in addition to an increase in lipid peroxides, indicating that oxidation of the arterial wall had been occurring.

Anti-viral therapies that rely on GSH biochemistry for their action have been found to be less effective in those with low GSH levels, and other studies have confirmed that supplementing with GSH improves the response to interferon treatment. These results indicate the activity of oxidizing agents and free radicals in liver conditions, and in fact this has been demonstrated by tests carried out in New York and Philadelphia in the 1990s.

This suggests that the liver is prone to damage by oxidative stress, and that GSH levels may be able to be used as an indication of potential liver disease. What is evident is that a strong case can be made for glutathione supplementation as protection against potential liver, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, especially by those exposed to specific polluting agents such as primary or secondary tobacco smoke, auto and diesel fumes and chemicals and pesticides.

L-glutathione is useful, not only for the elimination of toxins in the liver, but also in protecting this large and vital organ from the oxidative stress that modern living brings. L-Glutathione and its precursors are sold over the counter at your local or internet health food store.

About the Author

More information on Glutathione and whole body detox is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

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