No matter what we do, we’re exposed every day to free radicals—unstable molecules that contribute to aging and disease. We know that by eating more vitamin- and mineral-rich foods, we can increase antioxidant intake to help fight free radical damage. But there’s one “miracle” antioxidant that many people are missing: glutathione, a.k.a the “Mother of All Supplements.”

Literally hundreds of thousands of peer reviewed studies have been done on glutathione as we discover more and more people are deficient in it. So, how can you make sure you aren’t one of those people? First, let’s look at some facts about this antioxidant:

What Does Glutathione Do?

Here’s what you need to know about glutathione:

• It’s the antioxidant found most abundantly in our livers and the cells. You can even find it in the proteins of the body.
• Glutathione is a part of many bodily processes, including making important chemicals, building and repairing tissues, making necessary proteins, and supporting the immune system.
• Glutathione is a powerhouse because it can grab problematic free radicals and remove the electron that’s causing the issue. This makes the free radical harmless.
• We must have glutathione for keeping the liver healthy and detox pollutants like heavy metals, toxins, and free radicals from the body to prevent disease and illness.

This magical antioxidant is made in the body and contains a special sulfur chemical group that sticks to free radicals and toxins to remove them. However, if the toxic load of the body gets too high due to diet or environment, the glutathione recycled in the body might not be enough.

Now, we can get glutathione through food too. But here’s the thing: although glutathione is found in many fruits, vegetables, and even meats, it’s broken down during digestion, and the molecule itself is believed to be too big to pass easily through the digestive tract. This means the body is only able to absorb small amounts.

When Glutathione Levels are Low

Not having enough glutathione present in the body can have dire consequences. A glutathione deficiency can make it really hard for the body to detoxify, cause a buildup of toxins, increase oxidative stress (when there are too many free radicals for the body to counteract), make the body unable to repair DNA, weaken cell membranes and lead to cell mutations, and reduce the amount of nutrients and oxygen that gets to the cells.

This is obviously bad and even worse long-term, so we recommend doing what you can to support healthy glutathione levels—including knowing your risks.

Risk Factors for Low Glutathione Levels

There are many factors that can contribute to low glutathione in the body. Here are some of the biggest and most common ones:

• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Eating foods high in nitrates, such as processed lunch meats
• Having a poor diet, especially for an extended period of time
• Consuming GMO foods and artificial sugars
• Not getting enough regular exercise
• Having a chronic disease
• Regular stress or trauma
• Infections
• Taking certain medications like antibiotics

We often see that when someone is ill, they’re glutathione levels take even more of a nosedive. Keeping your levels of glutathione stable can assist your immune system in remaining healthy and preventing things like inflammation, fast aging, gut issues like IBS, autoimmune conditions, mood issues, ADHD, and chronic conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and even cancer.

Who Needs Glutathione?

Everyone can benefit from more glutathione, but it’s especially helpful for those who:

• Eat a poor diet or have had a poor diet for a long period of time
• Don’t or aren’t able to get regular exercise
• Have a chronic disease or serious condition that impacts your cells and how your body fights free radicals
• Takes prescription medications, including antibiotics
• Experiences regular irritability, low mood, or aches and pains

Even when we feel like we’re living a pretty healthy lifestyle, our bodies can still have trouble keeping up. The toxins in our modern environment, as well as daily stress from work and life, take their toll over time.

If you often aren’t feeling your best, especially in the morning or at night, or if you struggle with low energy and fatigue or lack of focus at work, you might be lacking in glutathione.

5 Ways to Raise Glutathione Levels

If you’re concerned about your glutathione levels and would like to boost them, not to worry. Here are our top recommendations:

#1 Supplement with nutrients that promote glutathione absorption. 
It’s advisable to take nutrients and supplements can help the body recycle glutathione and increase its function. Those include:

• Alpha-Lipoic-Acid: helps restore the antioxidant power of glutathione
• N-Acetyl Cysteine: helps boost glutathione levels
• Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): antioxidant that works with glutathione
• L-Glutamine: a precursor of glutathione that helps maintain high levels and prevent damage from oxidative stress
• Acetyl L-Carnitine: works with glutathione to reduce risk of cognitive decline and promote health of the cells
• Ashwagandha: works as an anti-stress agent to prevent free radical damage and decrease of glutathione levels during stress

This might seem like a lot, but there’s a simple way to easily get everything you need for increasing glutathione levels:

#2 Take a high-quality glutathione supplement.
Obviously, taking this antioxidant directly is the most efficient way to increase your levels—but be careful that you supplement correctly. Pill versions of glutathione supplements provide little benefit because, as mentioned above, the molecule is unable to move through the digestive tract enough to be absorbed well—you’d probably only absorb about 20% of the glutathione at most. Therefore, it’s best to take glutathione in a way where it’s absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

We recommend Advanced Glutathione Extra Strength spray because it’s the leading glutathione supplement of its kind on the market now and provides the most benefit per dose—taking absorption up to 80%! Plus, it can raise your glutathione levels by 10% within roughly the first seven hours after using it. That’s because it’s absorbed rapidly by the vessels under your tongue and in your cheek lining and it already includes all the nutrients listed in #1 that you need to boost absorption rate. No need to take several supplements at once.

Our team of doctors has observed quick and effective results in overall health for those taking Advanced Glutathione. You can find out more here.

#3 Eat foods rich in glutathione precursors. 
These foods include broccoli, spinach, asparagus, avocado, tomatoes, carrots, parsley, apples, oranges, pears, grapefruit, and garlic. Not only do they contain precursors, they’re also a nutrient-rich way to boost overall health. Keep in mind, though, that the most recommended way to increase glutathione levels is still through supplementation.

#4 Exercise regularly. 
If you struggle with motivation to exercise, think of it as a simple way to boost your glutathione levels every day! Regular exercise helps strengthen your immune system and increase the antioxidant defenses of the body. If you’re new to exercise, start lowly with something light like walking each day or lifting some weights. Build up from there; your body will thank you.

#5 Eat natural foods.
Stick to whole, natural foods as much as possible for your daily meals and snacks. This is the best way to avoid artificial additives and processed foods that contain harmful, illness-promoting ingredients like hydrogenated oils and refined carbs. Natural foods will help your body’s immunity and is a great way to compliment a high-quality glutathione supplement.

Glutathione deficiency can be really detrimental to our health and longevity. We can help protect ourselves by being mindful of practices that affect our levels, eating well and exercising, and add a good glutathione supplement to our daily routines.