Glutathione - any recommendations?

[mimi!]

After a lot of reading on how great Glutathione is in detoxing the liver, and how it may not work very well if simply ingested, what do some folks here use?  Anyone try sublingual?

Further, taking NAC long term to 'boost' Glutathione levels sends the body in a 'hyper' state, or something like that (I read this late on curezone last night.)  But, it seems that ALA is fine to take.

Glutathione is found in whey, but, this is not an option for milk sensitivities.

[changingseasons]

  

I was about to head out to the supplement shop this afternoon, but I should wait to get opinions on this one too.  

[Theloose]

Masterjohn article on glutathione and food:

http://westonaprice.org/blogs/the-biochemical-magic-of-raw-milk-and-other-raw-foods-glutathione.html

I started on NOW brand glutathione, and then switched to Healthy Origins cause it's cheaper.  Lots happened at the same time, but my dose also increased a bit then.  Glutathione is dramatically improving my mood and outlook on life.  When I took NAC a year or two ago, it just gave me a fuzzy white tongue.

And now to speak on others' behalf (behalfs?) - Tanya's going to have something to say about ALA being 'fine to take.'  And PB recommends Designs for Health glutathione.  Her rec for me was to increase the dose until I felt a burning/bubbly/tingling stomach feeling, then back off one pill, then take that much 3x/day.

[WuWei]

Food Sources That Boost Glutathione Naturally: Milk thistle, asparagus, whey protein, Indian curry spice, curcumin (turmeric), Brazil nuts, acorn squash, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cantaloupe, grapefruit, okra, oranges, peach, potato, spinach, strawberry, watermelon, zucchini, apples, carrots, cauliflower, walnuts, garlic, and raw tomatoes.

Supplement sources are not well absorbed, per my understanding.

Pat

[Theloose]

I don't know anything about it, but another option is the Life Wave patch, recommended by the heartfixer guy:

http://heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm

http://lifewave.com/yage.asp

[mimi!]

Thanks for your great list!

This is pretty much the bulk of our diet (save whey, and we can't seem to find mould free Brazil nuts), however, I am looking for some extra liver help, while taking a break from Milk Thistle.
 

Originally Posted by WuWei 

Food Sources That Boost Glutathione Naturally: Milk thistle, asparagus, whey protein, Indian curry spice, curcumin (turmeric), Brazil nuts, acorn squash, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cantaloupe, grapefruit, okra, oranges, peach, potato, spinach, strawberry, watermelon, zucchini, apples, carrots, cauliflower, walnuts, garlic, and raw tomatoes.

Supplement sources are not well absorbed, per my understanding.

Pat

[kjbrown92]

The osteo recommended Essential Nutraceuticals Liposomal Glutathione Softgels for my 10yo DS It has 250 mg glutathione in it. Ingredients: titanium dioxide, olive oil, beeswax, gelatin [doesn't say beef, pork, or tilapia, so you need to check if it's something you can be sensitive to], purified water, and some propiatary somethingaruther. DS is supposed to take 1 two times a day. Unless he's reacting to something, he's been doing a lot worse.

Turns out it had undeclared soy in it (because they took the protein out). Now trying to find a safe one.

Edited by kjbrown92 - 1/31/11 at 4:00pm

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by mimi! 
But, it seems that ALA is fine to take.

Can't comment on supplemental glutathione, I haven't tried it. 

ALA (alpha lipoic acid for lurkers, not alpha linoleic acid, the omega-3 fatty acid precursor found in flax and walnuts) is a significant mobilizer of heavy metals.  Does a great job getting mercury and arsenic out of your body--which is really, really something you don't want to do pregnant or breastfeeding or near when you may conceive.  And IMO, anyone here should consider that heavy metals are involved in their health situation, and so they should be very cautious and deliberate about using ALA.  I've been using it for about 3 years now, I give it to my kids too and it's been a key part of us getting healthier, but I've been very careful about how I've used it.  And I weaned my son so that I could start it (and get my amalgams out, basically get that ball rolling). 

NAC seems helpful for some, not for others, I don't know a lot about long-term use, but it's a sulfur donor, so some people, who do well with sulfury foods like onions, garlic, eggs, like that, are also likely to see improvements with NAC.  And people who would feel better on a low sulfur diet (there's a longer list of foods to exclude than just what i wrote, those are just a few biggies), will react poorly to NAC.  I haven't tried it, though, so no personal testimonials. 

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by mimi! 

After a lot of reading on how great Glutathione is in detoxing the liver, and how it may not work very well if simply ingested, what do some folks here use?  Anyone try sublingual?

Further, taking NAC long term to 'boost' Glutathione levels sends the body in a 'hyper' state, or something like that (I read this late on curezone last night.)  But, it seems that ALA is fine to take.

Glutathione is found in whey, but, this is not an option for milk sensitivities.

I personally think it works VERY well if ingested and I cannot recommend the powder from Designs for Health enough if you can find it.  Amazing (expensive) stuff.

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by WuWei 

Food Sources That Boost Glutathione Naturally: Milk thistle, asparagus, whey protein, Indian curry spice, curcumin (turmeric), Brazil nuts, acorn squash, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cantaloupe, grapefruit, okra, oranges, peach, potato, spinach, strawberry, watermelon, zucchini, apples, carrots, cauliflower, walnuts, garlic, and raw tomatoes.

Supplement sources are not well absorbed, per my understanding.

Pat

that is what all he studies say, you are correct.  But I can attest to the fact that it does.  I have used it in emergent situations in the absence of other interventions and watched people turn the corner.  It clearly is working!  Why the studies say it doesn't raise the blood level I do not know.  I'm guessing there's another mechanism at work, but I haven't figured it out yet....like if it goes directly to the liver so unless you test the levels at the time of ingestion you won't see much...kinda like vitamin C?

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by mimi! 

Further, taking NAC long term to 'boost' Glutathione levels sends the body in a 'hyper' state, or something like that (I read this late on curezone last night.) 

NAC also seems to feed and exacerbate yeast.  Just something to consider.

[Theloose]

Originally Posted by WuWei 

Food Sources That Boost Glutathione Naturally: Milk thistle, asparagus, whey protein, Indian curry spice, curcumin (turmeric), Brazil nuts, acorn squash, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cantaloupe, grapefruit, okra, oranges, peach, potato, spinach, strawberry, watermelon, zucchini, apples, carrots, cauliflower, walnuts, garlic, and raw tomatoes.

Supplement sources are not well absorbed, per my understanding.

Pat

I'm on supplemental glutathione, and it's magic. Seriously, the best supp I've ever tried. But my need keeps going up, and it's getting a bit expensive to keep up with. Honestly, though, I don't trust food sources to give me as much as I need. I'm wondering about how to stretch the supplemental stuff further. I'm thinking about things like adding selenium and vitamin C, growing and eating broccoli sprouts, trailing whey, etc. The masterjohn article talks about raw whey and raw egg whites being the main things that boost levels, but I didn't see mention of things like broccoli sprouts. (I could have missed it, I can't search the word on here.) It'd be interesting to see how they compare.

What order would you try those other things? Any bets on what would be the most effective? Any reason *not* to try and ramp up my own production?

[tanyalynn]

So I was just reading the WAPF page on crucifers, and they're down on sprouts in particular, and so-so on crucifers in general, for the assorted food chemicals--not salicylates or amines, but nitriles and gluco-somethings and indoles IIRC.  The argument there is that moderate (or small) amounts may be fine, but crucifers can increase the need for iodine, the goitrogens block iodine receptors?  I think I got that right.  Now, they can come up with an argument against anything EXCEPT eggs and meat (and they're pretty stingy in their discussion of the problems of dairy) so I'm not sold that they're completely objective, but maybe consider your iodine intake if you go the broccoli sprout route?

Theloose--have you tried milk thistle?  Though, from everything I've read, it seems to _be_ healthy but not necessarily make people _feel_ healthier, so you're looking for a bit more bang for your buck.  I'm about to re-start my milk thistle after a long hiatus, the larger capsules that I am going to fill should solve my problem of how to take it (loose ground seeds just weren't happening regularly). 

[Theloose]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn 

So I was just reading the WAPF page on crucifers, and they're down on sprouts in particular, and so-so on crucifers in general, for the assorted food chemicals--not salicylates or amines, but nitriles and gluco-somethings and indoles IIRC.  The argument there is that moderate (or small) amounts may be fine, but crucifers can increase the need for iodine, the goitrogens block iodine receptors?  I think I got that right.  Now, they can come up with an argument against anything EXCEPT eggs and meat (and they're pretty stingy in their discussion of the problems of dairy) so I'm not sold that they're completely objective, but maybe consider your iodine intake if you go the broccoli sprout route?

Theloose--have you tried milk thistle?  Though, from everything I've read, it seems to _be_ healthy but not necessarily make people _feel_ healthier, so you're looking for a bit more bang for your buck.  I'm about to re-start my milk thistle after a long hiatus, the larger capsules that I am going to fill should solve my problem of how to take it (loose ground seeds just weren't happening regularly). 

Down on sprouts?  Really?

[tanyalynn]

Big time, much more than regular crucifers.  I've heard the argument that plants have more plant-style toxins when they're little because they're more vulnerable and smaller (more things think they're snack-sized), but, well, we can handle some of this.  I'm wondering if it would be a nice thing to do in the spring, I mean more sprouts through the spring than at other times, since that's when most plants are sprouting, and if they're good for liver stuff, TCM says spring is the season for the liver--and so liver imbalance stuff shows up stronger in the spring, anger, frustration, impatience, emotional stuff. 

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn 

Big time, much more than regular crucifers.  I've heard the argument that plants have more plant-style toxins when they're little because they're more vulnerable and smaller (more things think they're snack-sized), but, well, we can handle some of this.  I'm wondering if it would be a nice thing to do in the spring, I mean more sprouts through the spring than at other times, since that's when most plants are sprouting, and if they're good for liver stuff, TCM says spring is the season for the liver--and so liver imbalance stuff shows up stronger in the spring, anger, frustration, impatience, emotional stuff. 

totally.
 

[tanyalynn]

PB, you make me laugh.  In a good way!

... So I sprouted just a bit a few years ago and it fell by the wayside, but I'm now drooling over some of the blends here, in addition to the plain broccoli...  http://sproutpeople.org/

It's almost spring here... this year we really didn't have winter, it was a few cold (nights below freezing) days with this weird mix of warm days, it's been super-confusing.  But I realized, this could be part of my solution to having veggies ready to cook (yeah, I'm going to cook my sprouts).  Once they're done, they're good for a week or two in the frig apparently (maybe longer), and they'd be clean and ready to cook--sounds convenient, right?  I need more ready-to-cook green stuff. 

[Theloose]

What about other stuff like adding in selenium or vit C to try and keep the glutathione circulating better?  Any reason not to try?

[tanyalynn]

I don't know of any reason not to.  Zinc's important for glutathione production as well... in case you've gotten low like I have.  (bag-head smiley that I don't want to look up)

[Panserbjorne]

no. now that you know what glutathione does for you it's definitely worth finding an alternate balance.