Glutathione is a molecule composed of the amino acids glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine, which is produced in the body’s cells, so it is very important to eat foods that promote this production, such as eggs, vegetables, fish or chicken, for example. .
This peptide is very important for the body, since it exerts a strong antioxidant action, important for the protection of cells against oxidative stress, and also plays a very important role in the biotransformation and elimination of chemical substances from the body.
Glutathione is responsible for performing the following functions in the body:
Glutathione can be reduced during periods of stress, poor diet and can even decrease with aging, so it is very important to consume foods that favor its production in the body.
To increase glutathione production, it is important to consume sulfur-rich foods, which is an essential mineral for its synthesis and which is part of the structure of the amino acids that make up it: methionine and cysteine.These amino acids can be found in foods such as meat, fish, eggs, cauliflower, vegetables, onions, garlic, Brussels sprouts and broccoli, for example,
In addition, foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus, papaya, kiwi and strawberries, also contribute to the increase in glutathione, as vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining its levels by also participating in the fight against free radicals.
Although the body produces glutathione, it can also be found in foods such as avocado, asparagus and spinach; However, these foods are not as effective at increasing glutathione in the body as they are barely absorbed and can be destroyed when cooking food.
In addition to the diet, there is an alternative to glutathione supplementation, which may be justified in cases where levels of this peptide are low.
Another way to supplement glutathione is to take whey protein supplements, which consist of milk-isolated proteins that contain glutathione precursor amino acids.