Glutathione is one of the body’s most essential and potent antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that reduce oxidative stress by combating free radicals in the body.
While most antioxidants are found in the foods you eat, glutathione is produced by your body. It is primarily made up of three amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine.
Several reasons your body’s glutathione level may deplete include a poor diet, chronic disease, infection, and constant stress.
Glutathione is also known to decrease with age.
Maintaining adequate levels of this antioxidant is incredibly important. Below are 10 of the best ways to increase your glutathione levels naturally.
1. Consume sulfur-rich foods
Sulfur is an essential mineral that occurs naturally in some plant and protein foods.
It’s required to structure and activity essential proteins and enzymes in the body. Notably, sulfur is required for the synthesis of glutathione.
Sulfur is found in two amino acids in food: methionine and cysteine. It’s primarily derived from dietary proteins, such as beef, fish, and poultry.
However, there are vegetarian sources of sulfur as well, such as cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, watercress, and mustard greens.
Several human and animal studies have found that eating sulfur-rich vegetables may reduce oxidative stress by increasing glutathione levels.
Allium vegetables, including garlic, shallots, and onions, also boost glutathione levels — likely due to their sulfur-containing compounds.
Summary: Sulfur is essential for producing glutathione. Therefore, ensure you’re eating sulfur-rich proteins such as beef, fish, poultry, and allium and cruciferous vegetables.
2. Increase your vitamin C intake
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin found in various foods, mainly fruits, and vegetables.
Strawberries, citrus fruits, papayas, kiwis, and bell peppers are all examples of foods rich in vitamin C.
This vitamin has many functions, including working as an antioxidant to protect cells from oxidative damage. It also maintains the body’s supply of other antioxidants, including glutathione.
Researchers have discovered that vitamin C may help increase glutathione levels by attacking free radicals first, thereby sparing glutathione.
They also found that vitamin C helps reprocess glutathione by converting oxidized glutathione back to its active form.
Researchers have found that taking vitamin C supplements increases glutathione levels in white blood cells in healthy adults.
In one study, adults took 500–1,000 mg of vitamin C daily for 13 weeks, leading to an 18% increase in glutathione in white blood cells.
Another study showed that taking 500 mg of vitamin C supplements daily increased glutathione in red blood cells by 47%.
However, these studies involved vitamin C supplements. Given that supplements are concentrated versions of the vitamin, it’s unclear if foods would have the same effect.
Further research is needed to determine if you can increase glutathione levels by eating foods containing vitamin C.
Summary: Vitamin C plays a vital role in maintaining glutathione levels. For this reason, taking vitamin C supplements may help increase glutathione levels in your body.
3. Add selenium-rich foods to your diet
Selenium is an essential mineral and a glutathione cofactor, meaning it’s a substance needed for glutathione activity.
Some of the best sources of selenium are beef, chicken, fish, organ meats, cottage cheese, brown rice, and Brazil nuts.
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Increasing your selenium intake may help maintain or increase your body’s supply of glutathione.
The recommended dietary allowance for selenium for adults is 55 mcg. This is based on the amount needed to maximize the production of glutathione peroxidase.
One study investigated the effects of selenium supplements in 45 adults with chronic kidney disease. All of them received 200 mcg of selenium daily for three months.
Interestingly, all of their glutathione peroxidase levels increased significantly.
Another study showed that taking selenium supplements increased glutathione peroxidase levels in patients on hemodialysis.
Again, the above studies involved supplements rather than selenium-rich foods.
Additionally, it’s important to note that the tolerable upper intake level is set at 400 mcg per day. Due to possible toxicity, discuss selenium supplements and dosage with your healthcare provider.
For most healthy adults, eating a balanced diet with selenium-rich foods will ensure adequate levels of selenium — and, therefore, healthy glutathione levels.
Summary: Selenium is a cofactor in glutathione production. Fish, organ meats, and Brazil nuts are all selenium-rich foods that may help increase your levels naturally.
4. Eat foods naturally rich in glutathione
The human body produces glutathione, but there are also dietary sources. Spinach, avocados, asparagus, and okra are some of the richest dietary sources.
However, dietary glutathione is poorly absorbed by the human body. Additionally, cooking and storage conditions can decrease the amount of glutathione found in food.
Despite having a lower impact on increasing glutathione levels, glutathione-rich foods may help decrease oxidative stress.
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For example, a non-experimental study showed that people who consumed the most glutathione-rich foods had a lower risk of developing mouth cancer.
Ultimately, further research is warranted to fully understand the effect of glutathione-rich foods on oxidative stress and glutathione levels.
Summary: Dietary glutathione is not fully absorbed by the body. However, including foods naturally high in glutathione, like avocados, spinach, and okra, may help decrease oxidative stress.
5. Supplement with whey protein
Your body’s production of glutathione depends on certain amino acids.
An amino acid called cysteine is a particularly important amino acid that is involved in glutathione synthesis.
Foods rich in cysteine, such as whey protein, may increase your glutathione supply.
Research strongly supports this claim, as many studies have found that whey protein may increase glutathione levels and reduce oxidative stress.
Summary: Whey protein is a good source of cysteine, which helps maintain adequate glutathione production. Therefore, whey protein may help increase your levels.
6. Consider milk thistle
Milk thistle supplements are another way to boost glutathione levels naturally.
This herbal supplement is extracted from the milk thistle plant known as Silybum marianum.
Milk thistle is comprised of three active compounds, collectively known as silymarin. Silymarin is found in high concentrations in milk thistle extract and is well known for its antioxidant properties.
Furthermore, silymarin has been shown to increase glutathione levels and prevent depletion in both test-tube and rodent studies.
Researchers believe that silymarin can maintain glutathione levels by preventing cell damage.
Summary: Silymarin is an active ingredient in milk thistle extract. Milk thistle supplements may cause an increase in glutathione levels, likely attributed to silymarin.
7. Try turmeric extract
Turmeric is a vibrant yellow-orange herb and a popular spice in Indian cuisine.
The herb has been used medicinally in India since ancient times. The medicinal properties of turmeric are likely linked to its main component, curcumin.
The curcumin content is much more concentrated in the turmeric extract than in the spice.
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Numerous animal and test-tube studies have shown that turmeric and curcumin extract can increase glutathione levels.
Researchers conclude that the curcumin found in turmeric may assist in restoring adequate levels of glutathione and improve the activity of glutathione enzymes.
To experience an increase in glutathione levels, you would need to take turmeric extract, as it would be extremely difficult to consume the same levels of curcumin with turmeric spice.
Summary: Curcumin, an essential ingredient in turmeric, may increase glutathione levels. Although flavoring your food with turmeric can be tasty, you need the more concentrated curcumin in turmeric extract to increase your levels.
8. Get enough sleep
A good night’s rest is essential for overall health. Interestingly, long-term lack of sleep can cause oxidative stress and even hormone imbalances.
Furthermore, research has shown that chronic lack of sleep may decrease glutathione levels.
For example, a study measuring glutathione levels in 30 healthy people and 30 people with insomnia found that glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly lower in those with insomnia.
Multiple animal studies have also shown that sleep deprivation causes a decrease in glutathione levels.
Therefore, ensuring you get good, restorative sleep each night may help maintain or boost your antioxidant levels.
Summary: Chronic lack of sleep can cause a decrease in glutathione levels. Conversely, getting enough sleep regularly can help increase or maintain your levels.
9. Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity has long been recommended by physicians and healthcare providers. Unsurprisingly, exercise is good for both your physical and mental health.
Recent research shows that exercise is also helpful in maintaining or increasing antioxidant levels, especially glutathione.
Completing a combination of cardio and circuit weight training increases glutathione the most, compared to completing cardio or weight training alone.
However, athletes who overtrain without maintaining adequate nutrition and rest may be at risk of decreased glutathione production.
Therefore, be sure to incorporate physical activity into your regular routine gradually and sensibly.
Summary: Regular physical activity, specifically cardio and weight training, may help increase glutathione levels. However, overtraining without a balanced diet and proper rest can deplete your levels.
10. Avoid drinking too much alcohol
Unsurprisingly, many adverse health effects are associated with chronic and excessive alcohol intake.
Alcoholism is commonly associated with liver cirrhosis, brain damage, and pancreatitis.
While not as well known, lung damage is also an adverse effect of alcoholism. This is likely related to a depletion of glutathione levels in the lungs.
The small airways of the lungs require glutathione to function correctly. Healthy lungs have up to 1,000 times more glutathione than other body parts.
Depletion of glutathione in the lungs of alcoholics is most likely due to oxidative stress caused by chronic alcohol use.
Research has identified an 80–90% decrease in lung glutathione levels in those who regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Thus, limiting your alcohol intake may help you maintain healthy glutathione levels.
Summary: Alcoholism decreases glutathione levels throughout the body, especially in the lungs. People who regularly consume excessive amounts of alcohol can have an 80–90% decrease in lung glutathione.
Summary
Glutathione is an important antioxidant primarily made by the body but is also found in dietary sources.
Unfortunately, your levels of this antioxidant can be depleted due to many factors, such as aging, a poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle.
You can maintain appropriate glutathione levels by increasing your physical activity, avoiding drinking too much alcohol, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet.
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Taking milk thistle, turmeric, or whey protein supplements may also help boost your levels.
At the end of the day, there are many simple and natural ways to increase your levels of this critical and potent antioxidant.
