Glutathione - Your body's most powerful antioxidant

Glutathione (GSH) is an important antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi and some bacteria and archaea, preventing damage to important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species such as free radicals and peroxides.

Glutathione has multiple functions:

•      It is the major endogenous antioxidant produced by the cells, participating directly in the neutralization of free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds, as well as maintaining exogenous     antioxidants such as vitamins C and E in their reduced (active) forms.
•      Regulation of the nitric oxide cycle, which is critical for life but can be problematic if unregulated.
• ·    It is used in metabolic and biochemical reactions such as DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, prostaglandin synthesis, amino acid transport, and enzyme activation. Thus, every system in the body can be affected by the state of the glutathione system, especially the immune system, the nervous system, the         gastrointestinal system and the lungs.

Raising GSH levels through direct supplementation of glutathione is difficult.  It is possible to increase and maintain appropriate glutathione levels by increasing the daily consumption of cysteine-rich foods and/or supplements.

Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃), the active metabolite of vitamin D₃, after being synthesized from calcifediol in the kidney, increases glutathione levels in the brain and appears to be a catalyst for glutathione production. It takes about ten days for the body to process vitamin D₃ into calcitriol.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is available both as a drug and as a generic supplement, and has positive effects on glutathione production. Alpha lipoic acid restores intracellular glutathione. Other supplements, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and whey protein have also been shown to increase cellular glutathione content.

Low glutathione is commonly observed in wasting and negative nitrogen balance, as seen in trauma and athletic overtraining.

So as an athlete how can I prevent low glutathione levels? You can supplement and eat cysteine-rich foods. These include: Dairy Products: Ricotta cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt are particularly rich sources; eggs, garlic, onions and fresh unprocessed meats like Chicken and Turkey breast; Asparagus, avocados, squash, tomatoes, peaches, raw goat milk and walnuts boost glutathione; as well as Oat Flakes and Granola increase cysteine and also reduce cholesterol levels. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) promotes the synthesis of glutathione in the body. Food sources of ALA include spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts, and rice bran. Spices that contain curcumin like tummeric.

Hammer Whey is rich in two highly beneficial amino acids, methionine and cysteine. These two nutrients stimulate the natural production of glutathione, one of the body's most powerful antioxidants. Endurance exercise increases free-radical production, so endurance athletes need extra antioxidant protection. Glutathione also supports immune system and liver functions. 

Hammer Super Antioxidant has 100mg of L-Glutathione, a protein that is produced in the liver from three specific amino acids. Along with the mineral selenium, it forms the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which, along with SOD, is one of the body's endogenous antioxidants, and perhaps the most important one of all. Glutathione is also part of another enzyme, which has liver protecting qualities. It protects individual cells as well as the tissues of nearly the entire body and is an important nutrient in helping with the prevention of cancer, particularly liver cancer.

Hammer Endurance Amino contains 100 mg of reduced glutathione, a tripeptide consisting of the amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. Glutathione is one of the three endogenous antioxidants the body maintains to control excess exposure to free radicals produced during exercise as well as from exposure via the environment. With an Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC) score/rating estimated to be an astounding 12,000+, glutathione is undoubtedly a potent antioxidant and very important one for training recovery.

Hammer Mito Caps contain 50mg of Lipoic acid (in the preferred 'r' isomer form used in Mito Caps) is often called the "universal antioxidant" because, unlike other antioxidants, it scavenges both water and fat-soluble free radicals.

So with a little enhancement to your diet with both high cysteine rich foods and supplementation through nutrients like amino acids and lipoic acid you can lower your toxicity and fatigue and enhance the immune system and increase energy through increasing your glutathione