DNA and protein synthesis and cell growth. Glutathione is also required in many
of the intricate steps needed to carry out an immune response. For example, it
is needed for the lymphocytes to multiply in order to develop a strong immune
response, and for ‘killer’ lymphocytes to be able to kill undesirable cells such as
cancer cells or virus infected cells.
Glutathione is especially important during a kundalini awakening with the
activation of the immune system and excessive free radical production. Thus it is
vital to supplement with the four components that produce glutathione: selenium,
cysteine, glutamine and tryptophan. With depleted glutathione reserves, the
liver cannot effectively process and detoxify metabolites and toxins. Stress and
metamorphosis increases the production of hormones (adrenaline, estrogen and
testosterone) that are later broken down by the liver through a sulfation process.
If our glutathione levels are low we don’t have adequate sulfur containing cysteine
for sulfation.
l-Glutamine stimulates the liver to build up large amounts of glutathione,
while glutathione that is sold as a dietary supplement is mostly destroyed during
digestion and therefore is of little use. But L-Glutamine, can be used with Alpha
Lipoic Acid and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) to raise Glutathione levels. Cysteine has
a sulfur-containing portion which gives glutathione its ‘biochemical activity. Heat
or mechanical stress etc., easily split the stable form of the amino acid “cystine”
found in foods into cysteine, where upon digestion destroys it, thus raw unprocessed
foods or special food supplements high in bioactive cystine provide the best source
of this vital amino acid. Since cysteine itself is toxic, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
is usually used. Other sulfur containing substances include taurine, alpha lipoic
acid, glutathione, MSM and garlic. These are helpful for protection against heavy
metals in general and specifically useful in mercury removal. Glutamine plays a
chief role in ammonia detoxification as well as helping to maintain the integrity of
the mucus of the gastrointestinal tract
Supplementing with Vitamins C & E, B Vitamins, Beta Carotene, “Glycine”,
Glutamine and NAC, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Selenium, Pycnogenol, and vitamin B12
will ensure adequate antioxidants for sulfation and detoxification. Selenium works
synergistically with Vitamin E to increase Glutathione activity and to remove
mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic. The richest food source of selenium is
Ashitaba...so the body can produce glutathione. Nutritional yeast delivers reduced
(GSH) Glutathione together with B2 so the body can produce Glutathione
reductase. Foods containing Glutathione include: Avocado, Asparagus, Broccoli,
Cantaloupe, Grapefruit, Squash, Orange, Potato, Strawberries, Tomato,
Watermelon, Wheatgrass. Foods containing cysteine include: Barley, Garlic,
Yogurt, Kefir, Cottage cheese, Tofu, Beans, Chickpeas, Oatmeal, Lentils, Eggs,
Poultry, Red peppers, Brussel sprouts, Oats, and Wheat germ.
A number of foods stimulate glutathione production in the body even though
the plants themselves don’t have a lot of the amino acid in them. These glutathione
stimulating substances include the cabbage family, spinach, watermelon, cinnamon,
cardamom and cantaloupe, with “parsley” being the most effective. A potato soup