Glutathione

Here’s some encouraging news: centenarians — people aged 100 and older — are the fastest-growing age group in America. So, what’s their secret? And what can you start doing now to join the ranks of vibrant, active 100-year-olds?

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One answer may lie in a small yet powerful molecule produced in every cell of your body: glutathione. While it may not have the public fame of vitamin C or vitamin E, glutathione is often called the “master antioxidant” — and for good reason.

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In one study, researchers compared glutathione levels in 41 centenarians (ages 100–105) with those in people aged 60–79. They found that glutathione activity was significantly higher in the centenarians, and those with the best physical function had the highest levels. Another study followed 87 healthy women ages 60–103 for five years. Every woman had high blood glutathione levels, and those levels were linked to exceptional longevity.

 

What is Glutathione?
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of three amino acids — glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It is one of the body’s most important non-protein antioxidants, abundant in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria of your cells. First discovered in 1888, early research in the 1920s and 1930s focused on its role in eye health, particularly the lens. By the 1980s, scientists recognized glutathione as a major player in overall health and disease prevention.

 

Why You Need It
Without enough glutathione, your cells are vulnerable to free radical damage, your body struggles to manage metabolic waste, your liver’s detox ability weakens, and your immune defense against bacteria, viruses, and carcinogens is compromised.

For decades, researchers have explored antioxidants for their role in health and disease prevention. While familiar antioxidants like vitamins A, E, and selenium must come from your diet, glutathione is different — it helps all other antioxidants work. For example, it recycles oxidized vitamin C and E, restoring them to an active state so they can continue neutralizing free radicals. Without glutathione, these antioxidants can turn harmful, damaging healthy cells through a process called peroxidation.

 

The Bottom Line
When your glutathione systems are running at full capacity, every antioxidant in your body works more efficiently. This translates into stronger defense against oxidative stress, better protection against degenerative diseases, and potentially — a longer, healthier life.