Dr. Pegan: Glutathione, a Powerful Antioxidant

The Most Powerful Antioxidant You've never Heard Of

Everyone knows about vitamins C and E. If you're feeling a little run down or think you’re catching a cold, you reach for them. You expect these vitamins -- both of which are antioxidants -- and others to help your body perform at its best.

And yet the antioxidant ally you really want fighting your cellular battles is glutathione. Known as the body's master cell protector, it is as essential to life as oxygen. Glutathione may be the most important antioxidant you’ve never heard of.

Scientists have long known of the critical role glutathione plays in protecting cells. Pub Med, maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, has more than 92,000 articles (50,000 more than on vitamin C) substantiating its health benefits.

Glutathione is produced naturally in our cells if the required building blocks are available. As an antioxidant, glutathione protects cells from free radicals and oxidative stress, which is caused by environmental pollutants, diet, stress and even exercise.

Just as an engine generates exhaust when it burns gasoline to produce energy, the body's natural processes generate “exhaust” as well. Known as free radicals, this “exhaust” can start a chain reaction of oxidative stress that damages cells. Preventing these chain reactions is critical, as oxidative stress has been associated with more than 74 major diseases and disorders.

Antioxidants halt these chain reactions. The reason glutathione is so important and effective is that it can subdue many more free radicals than its antioxidant cousins.

You don't have to be a doctor to appreciate everything glutathione can do for you and your cells. As you increase your glutathione levels, you can experience multiple benefits because the antioxidant:

• is present in every cell in the body
• is a primary cell detoxifier
• strengthens the immune system
• fights intracellular inflammation
• supports increased exercise
• slows the aging process

So How Do We Get Glutathione?

So if your body produces glutathione and does all those great things for your cells, you don't have to worry, right? Not exactly. The downside is that the body’s production of glutathione slows as we age, leaving us vulnerable to oxidative stress and its associated ailments. Dealing with stress, a lack of sleep or prolonged illness means utilizing glutathione at an accelerated rate, further aggravating the situation.

A supplement by itself does not work because the fragile structure of glutathione makes surviving the digestive tract a near impossibility.

The Solution

The key is to give the body what it needs to produce glutathione. Max International and its medicinal chemist, Dr. Herb Nagasawa, have developed RiboCeine, a patent-pending solution to the glutathione quandary. RiboCeine is designed to protect and deliver the fragile cysteine molecule to the cell. Cysteine is often in limited supply in the body, but is an essential component for the production of glutathione.

Glutathione is especially important due to its ability to protect the cell, where ATP -- the basic form of cellular energy in the body -- is manufactured. RiboCeine also delivers ribose, a natural compound required for ATP.

We all need the benefits of glutathione in our lives. Consider adding RiboCeine with glutathione to your supplement program.

Dr. Mark W. Pegan is a board-certified chiropractic physician. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Central Florida and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida. Dr. Pegan and his family have lived in the Lake Mary area for over 22 years. He owns Heathrow Chiropractic, which opened in November 2010. For more information call 407-829-2133 or visit HeathrowChiropractic.com.