In today’s toxic world full of heavy metals, plastics, mold, and synthetic chemicals, there is one superstar nutrient working overtime to keep your body functioning optimally. Meet glutathione: your body’s master detoxifier!

No other nutrient works harder to eliminate the toxic substances we come into contact with on a daily basis. I literally refer to it as “glorious glutathione” in my New York Times bestselling book, The Autoimmune Solution. That’s how much I love it! 

In this article, I’ll be covering what glutathione is, why we need it, glutathione benefits, glutathione supplements, and how to get more of this powerful nutrient!

What is Glutathione?

Your liver naturally produces glutathione, a vital nutrient. It’s in nearly every cell of the human body. Three amino acids make up glutathione: cysteine, glycine, and glutamate.

Glutathione helps your body process and eliminate toxins. In addition, it supports energy production, is a potent free radical scavenger, and boosts your immune system. In fact, recent research even links glutathione levels in your cells to longevity! (1)

Your body produces glutathione naturally. Nevertheless, poor diet, toxins, medications, stress, and illness can deplete its levels. In some cases, these factors can even halt production completely. In fact, exposure to heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, or arsenic can also lead to glutathione depletion.

Low glutathione levels play a big role in triggering inflammation and autoimmune diseases. To illustrate, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis are all linked to low glutathione. (2) 

Studies have shown that patients with autoimmune conditions tend to have lower blood concentrations of glutathione. (3) Without enough glutathione, your body cannot properly detox. As a result, toxins linger in your bloodstream or get stored in fat. 

The result? They wreak havoc on your immune system and set you up for chronic illness. (4)

Living in a Toxic World: Why We Need Glutathione

Every single one of us is exposed to an unprecedented amount of toxins in this day and age. It’s nearly impossible to avoid it! There are over 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the United States. Each year about another 1,700 are added to that list.

Many of these industrial chemicals are the basic ingredients in our cosmetics and personal care products. The U.S. government approves an average of seven new industrial chemicals daily. They rush 80% through in three weeks or less — with little to no safety testing.

You read that correctly! 

The FDA does not investigate or test for the safety of personal care products! Instead, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), an industry-appointed and funded panel, reviews the safety of cosmetic ingredients. This seems like a case of the fox guarding the henhouse, doesn’t it?

According to EWG, there are approximately 10,500 ingredients used in cosmetics in our country. In its 30-year history, the CIR has screened only 11 of those ingredients. This means that, if we do the math again, nearly 90% of cosmetics ingredients aren’t reviewed or tested for safety.

Unfortunately, allergies, asthma, cancer, and autoimmune disease have increased over the last half-century. This reflects the consequences of our increasingly toxic world.

How To Reduce Toxic Burden

In 2003, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) partnered with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. They wanted to test the “body burden” of the average American. That’s not people who are working with chemicals or living in polluted areas. These are just regular people who they assumed were relatively safe. 

Out of 210 different substances tested, they found a total of 167 in the group. An average of 91 toxins were in each person’s body. To illustrate, these toxins included industrial chemicals, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), insecticides, dioxin, and benzene. (5) 

At least 53 of the 91 toxins found in the average person suppress the immune system. This is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding today’s autoimmune epidemic and the surge in chronic illness.

Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle to keep your immune system working optimally. I recommend a two-step approach for taming the toxins: 

1.) Minimize your exposure 

2.) Support your detox pathways

We face a daily bombardment of environmental toxins from water and air pollution. Pesticides, herbicides in our food, and chemicals in beauty and cleaning products add to this toxic load. To keep up with these toxic burdens, we need to rely on our body's most powerful detox methods. That’s where glutathione comes in!

The Health Benefits of Glutathione

Glutathione does more than just help your body detox—it’s a key player in overall health and longevity. Glutathione benefits range from flushing out harmful toxins to neutralizing oxidative stress. It also supports energy production and immune function. 

This powerhouse antioxidant keeps your body running smoothly. Let’s explore some of the glutathione benefits.

Glutathione Detoxifies Mold and Heavy Metals

Mycotoxins and heavy metals can build up in your system, leading to some serious issues. These problems include allergies, eczema, and autoimmune disease. Sometimes, I see patients struggling with chronic symptoms. They may have already addressed the other pillars of the Meyer’s Way®. In that case, I often suspect mold toxicity or heavy metal overload. 

One of the glutathione benefits is that it’s your body’s “master detoxifier.” You see, it binds to toxins and pulls them out of your system. This way, you can safely and effectively flush them out of your body.

Glutathione Scavenges Free Radicals

Another of the primary glutathione benefits is that it relieves your body of oxidative stress. This is when your DNA becomes damaged due to an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your blood. 

Oxidative stress is at the root of myriad chronic illnesses. It can lead to diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. (6)

Glutathione benefits your DNA by protecting it from the most notorious free radicals. These include advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Glutathione Boosts Energy Production

It benefits your cells by coordinating the activity of antioxidants. Some of these include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and free radical fighters CoQ10 and Ubiquinol. This activity clears your cells of toxins. In addition, it protects your cells and their mitochondria. These are the “power plants” in cells that provide your body with fuel known as ATP. This allows them to function at peak efficiency.

Glutathione Supports Immune Health

I often notice my patients with autoimmunity have lower glutathione levels. The fact is, glutathione benefits your immune system. Without enough glutathione, you are more susceptible to attacks on your immune system. As a result, toxins, heavy metals, and free radicals accumulate and wreak havoc on your body.

Optimal glutathione levels can boost white blood cell count. This is important because white blood cells are immune cells. They defend your body against infections, disease pathogens, and even cancer cells!

How to Increase Glutathione Levels Naturally

If you have an MTHFR mutation or a SNP on the GSTM1 gene, you don’t detoxify heavy metals as well or process glutathione as efficiently as most people. What’s more, if you have an autoimmune condition or another chronic illness, that means your glutathione levels have been depleted. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can increase your glutathione levels to enhance immune function naturally.

Foods

Sulfurous vegetables such as onions and garlic can help your body make its own glutathione. Cruciferous veggies are good for this, too. However, getting enough glutathione to overcome your condition from foods alone can be a challenge. This is especially true if you have autoimmunity, heavy metal overload, or another chronic illness. Don’t worry, there’s a solution to that!

Glutathione Supplements

Supplementing with glutathione is particularly important for those with compromised immune systems. For example, I’ve seen amazing results in myself and my patients with autoimmune disease and mold exposure. It’s also helpful for heavy metal overload, lyme, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. 

In fact, glutathione supplements are so helpful for people with autoimmunity that it’s one of the three supplements in my Autoimmune Support Protocol. Along with glutathione, the Autoimmune Support Protocol also includes Curcumin and Resveratrol. These three supplements taken together have a synergistic effect. They’re even more effective together! It also includes L-glutamine to support your immune system and overall gut health.

Glutathione supplements are critical for those with autoimmune conditions. That said, they’re so powerful that I recommend them to anyone who wants optimal health! 

Research has shown that glutathione supplements can help support lean muscle mass and optimize recovery time. In addition, it can assist your metabolism in shifting from fat production to muscle development. Consequently, it’s an excellent choice for athletes. (7)

Even more, it’s also great for nights of indulging. I rarely drink alcohol and recommend only drinking on special occasions. However, when I do, I always take my glutathione before imbibing. It helps to combat the toxic alcohol byproducts that produce the dreaded hangover. Remember, however, it’s not a pass to overindulge!

The Most Effective Type of Glutathione Supplement

You do need to be careful. Glutathione is definitely one of those supplements that you get what you pay for. In fact, most glutathione supplements out there simply don’t work! 

When I was sick from mold exposure, I tried several different glutathione supplements to help my body eliminate the toxins. However, I wasn’t getting any response. That’s because glutathione is typically not well absorbed when taken orally.

To be absorbed by your body, glutathione supplements must be in the proper form. For example, the “liposomal” form has been advertised as being able to penetrate your cells. However, I haven’t found it to be effective in myself or my patients. The best way to absorb it is with IV glutathione, which is considered the gold standard. That said, this method is expensive and not very convenient.

The good news is that after a very LONG search, I found a form of glutathione that is acetylated and uses nanotechnology. That is, it prevents it from breaking down in your gut, allowing it to be absorbed. As a result, I can confidently say that the glutathione supplement I carry in my store is the most effective oral form of glutathione available!

With my history of autoimmunity, heavy metal overload, and mold exposure, I make sure to take it every single day. For example, I even stock up and take extra when I travel (due to my increased toxin and mold exposure), or any time I feel I might get sick. So, if you’re ready to feel the impact of glorious glutathione for yourself, be sure to add this to your daily routine!

The Final Word on Glutathione

It’s nearly impossible to avoid exposure to toxins in our world today. Thankfully, our bodies have a built-in defense system — and glutathione is at the heart of it. 

Glutathione helps clear out heavy metals, mold toxins, synthetic chemicals, and harmful free radicals. These factors contribute to chronic illness and inflammation. Unfortunately, modern stressors deplete our supply of glutathione. This means supporting your glutathione levels is not only beneficial — it’s essential.

That’s why I recommend taking a glutathione supplement in its most effective, bioavailable form. After years of searching, I found an acetylated, nanotechnology-based glutathione supplement. It provides optimal absorption and real results. I take it daily to support my immune system, energy levels, and detox pathways. I encourage you to do the same!

So, are you ready to experience the power of “glorious glutathione” for yourself? Try my go-to glutathione supplement and give your body the detox support it needs!