Glutathione - Redox To Detox

Glutathione has been hailed the mother of all antioxidants. 

The more we learn about this powerhouse the more we realize how life sustaining it is. Glutathione is a simple tripeptide made from the amino acids glycine, glutamate and cysteine. Glutathione is the most abundant and important intracellular antioxidant that helps support health aging by supporting crucial detoxifying process. Glutathione’s major ‘duty’ is to help cells rid themselves of toxins and other intracellular debris that are associated with chronic disease such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Autism. Glutathione is sticky and grabs on to toxins and helps escort them out of the body.

Glutathione: What Does It Do

Under optimal conditions, glutathione recycles antioxidants (chemicals that block the activity of other chemicals known as free radicals that may seriously damage cells). Glutathione also helps support tissue building and repair and plays a huge role in supporting and maintaining a functional immune system. Healthy levels of glutathione help us sustain optimal physical and mental function by controlling dangerous inflammatory processes that lead to chronic disease. Of note, research has shown that glutathione may be helpful in reducing the side effects of several chemotherapeutic medications.

Glutathione: Where Is It Made

In healthy tissue, glutathione is produced in every single cell and is concentrated in the liver. It is found in abundance in the retina and other ocular tissues.

Glutathione: Redox to Detox

Every living cell participates in the metabolic process known as “redox” (reduction-oxidation). Redox reactions are chemical reactions where atoms oxidative states change due to a transfer of electrons (redox = gaining electrons; oxidation = loss of electrons) between species (atoms and other molecules). Species in this context may sound like the next “Cosmic Thriller” and in one way it is because this transfer of energy makes life as we know it possible! A good example of redox signaling involves glutathione peroxidase, which plays a crucial role in oxidative signaling, protecting the cell against the threatening effects of extreme oxidation.

Glutathione: When Levels Drop

Low levels of glutathione are associated with cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, cancer and autism. Research has shown that depleted levels of glutathione correlate with reduced levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter which may contribute to the neurodegenerative and  cognitive changes observed in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's.

Glutathione: Why Levels Drop

A poor diet, chronic illness, certain medications, stress, infections and radiation can deplete glutathione stores. Repeated exposure to toxic elements (mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, manganese, iron) can also deplete glutathione levels because the body cannot keep up with the toxic overload. Remember, glutathione grabs onto toxins and escorts them out of the body. When glutathione levels are depleted, the body becomes overwhelmed with toxins and the immune system loses a healthy grip on our health. So begins a dangerous cycle spinning out of control towards a myriad of chronic diseases.

Glutathione: What's Your Level

Want to learn more about how to live clean in a toxic world? Join us in a Virtual Detox Summit

Resources

High Blood Glutathione Levels Accompany Excellent Physical and Mental Health in Women Ages 60 to 103 Years.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12486409


Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Blood Glutathione Levels
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/111/6/1098.full.pdf


Glutathione Redox State Regulates Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Production
http://m.jbc.org/content/280/27/25305.long


Mitochondrial Redox Signalling at a Glance
http://jcs.biologists.org/content/125/4/801.full


The Effects of Redox Controls Mediated by Glutathione Peroxidases on Root Architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana
http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/01/24/jxb.ert486.full


Glutathione, Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10931172


Statistical Evaluation of Preventive Use of Glutathione Against Side-Effects of Surgical Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer Patients
http://jjco.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/1/19.extract


Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention (National Institutes of Health)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/antioxidants


Glutathione: In Sickness and in Health
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)78428-2/fulltext#article_upsell

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Carbs On My Fork - Part I

The Fork…...

Diabetes is escalating at an alarming rate worldwide. The devastating affects of chronically elevated blood sugar is far reaching and unfathomable. Could it be true that the most insidious world wide weapon of mass distraction is a "fork". Well, lets take a look at why this might be true. Lets start with the deleterious of carbohydrate overload on our body's.

 “Diabetes” (Die of Sugar) is the perfect genre for another best selling Steven King mystery. 

Elevated blood sugar will be another blog topic for another day. Today’s topic should always be considered when discussing blood sugar. The topic is Insulin.

Insulin is a natural peptide hormone made by the pancreas that controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Insulin is required for cells to utilize glucose for energy.  Normally, insulin is provided within the body in a consistent amount in order to remove excess glucose from the blood. This prevents sugar from building up in the blood to become toxic. The natural production of insulin has been disrupted in disorders such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and other carbohydrate metabolic processes. Insulin is produced in the pancreas. Less than 1% of the pancreas is dedicated to producing insulin. When the body’s demands for insulin increases, the sensitivity of the insulin receptors decreases (weakens) which causes the pancreas to release more insulin to accomplish the same job. This grows into a vicious metabolic cycle until the symptoms of hypoglycemia begin to occur due to the dysregulation of glucose metabolism.

If Insulin Levels Remain Elevated

If the body cannot produce enough insulin or is unable touse insulin properly, hyperglycemia occurs. Meaning, there will be elevated levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. This is a metabolic challenge that occurs prior to the actual diagnosis of “diabetes” (Greek Translation: Die of Sugar). Some call this metabolic warning sign “prediabetes”. Prediabetes is a toxic biochemical set up for heart disease, kidney failure and related problems. 

What Causes Elevated Insulin Levels    

         

• Chronic Stress
• Environmental Toxins
• Diet High In Processed Food
• Nutritional Deficiency’s
• Weight Gain
•  Food Sensitivities
• Caffeine
• Low fat diets
• Lack of Restorative Sleep
• Alcohol
•  Tobacco
• Lack of Exercise

There is another philosophy. ”If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its probably a duck”. It is the opinion of this author that prediabetes gives the impression that things are still okay. The reality is that the excessive glucose in the blood stream becomes a free radical, which damages arterial walls, and forms wicked cross-links with proteins called “advanced glycosylation end products (AGE’s). These AGE’s actually accelerate the aging process – in other words they cause us to grow old at a faster rate than we would normally age without rouge sugar cruising thru our circulatory system. Remember blood goes everywhere, therefore so does the sugar. So the term prediabetes, translates to “Just before you die from sugar”.  This is when action needs to be taken to support the metabolic process and protect the pancreas as well as other end organ damage.

What Can You Do

• Ask yourself if you really want to know
• Online Lab Testing: Know What Your Insulin Levels Are - No Doctors Visit Required 
• Notice what's on your fork
• What's on your kids fork
• Exercise – Start Moving & Keep Moving
• Dietary Changes – Stop Processed Foods - Eat what your great grandma ate
• Gluten – Avoid Gluten like the plague - This will be difficult but can be done and is better than  loosing a kidney, an eye or You
• Do not fall into the low fat food trap! Check out the references below for up to date and well-researched resources
• Hydrate – with good clean water
• Sleep Good
• Caution with cosmetics and personal health products
• Manage Your Stress: Yoga, Feldenkrais, Meditate, Walk, Sing, Play with your kids
• Have an Attitude of Gratitude - Truly, this can help shift your perspective
• Minerals – Magnesium, Chromium, Zinc are essential inhelping to regulate insulin levels
• Toxins: Be aware of chemicals in and out of the home, school & office

Resources 

What is Insulin

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/whatisinsulin.php

Insulin Basics

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/insulin/insulin-basics.html

Influence of environment on insulin sensitivity.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19395033

Environmental Toxins: A Potential Risk Factor For Diabetes Among Canadian Aboriginals

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&ved=0CG0QFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.circumpolarhealthjournal.net%2Findex.php%2Fijch%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F17372%2F19676&ei=kBAAU9XcFIrwoASguYCYDQ&usg=AFQjCNHZqm7fvtVX-1kBhpAOaSphGeF9OQ&sig2=znOI1sVsEZCbnYAt6R4xug

Final Report: TCDD-Induced Insulin Resistance (EPA)

http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/7118/report/F