Glutathione Food Sources

Glutathione, sometimes called the Master Antioxidant, is the most abundant water-soluble antioxidant in your body. The health benefits of glutathione include increased energy, a stronger immune system, healthy liver function and relief for chronic inflammation. Your need for glutathione increases in times of high physical stress, like after a workout, or when recovering from injury or illness.

Glutathione is a naturally occurring protein that protects each cell, tissue and organ in your body from disease, aging and cancer; there are many good glutathione food sources that can supply you with your daily needs. Your levels of glutathione largely determine whether you feel good and have plenty of energy, or you don't. When your levels drop, you leave yourself open to increased risk from all types of degenerative diseases.

Glutathione is primarily manufactured in your body from a combination of amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. Of these, cysteine is the one that most determines how much you can produce. Cysteine is found in many glutathione food sources, especially whole grains, beans, eggs and meat.

Glutathione also needs a supply of the other nutrients that help do its job effectively: lipoic acid, selenium, zinc, and vitamin B2. Factors that will reduce your glutathione levels include smoking, alcohol, caffeine, strenuous exercise, food additives, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, ultraviolet radiation and air pollution. All of these will deplete glutathione levels in your body.

Our ability to produce glutathione also declines with age. As you grow old, your body gradually loses its ability to produce critical amino acids — the essential proteins you need to manufacture glutathione. Extensive research shows that levels typically begin to wane in your mid-40s. When you reach the age of 60, you see more dramatic declines in glutathione levels. This is worsened when your diet doesn't include enough glutathione food sources.

Glutathione Precursors

Protein foods such as raw milk products, raw eggs, and raw meat contain high concentrations of the precursor amino acids that your body uses to make glutathione. However, pasteurized dairy products are not good glutathione food sources.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of glutathione precursors, but once cooked, they have much lower levels. If you eat plenty of raw fresh fruits and vegetables, you'll probably get enough of the building blocks you need to increase glutathione in your system, assuming your bodily systems are functioning well.

Here is a list of the best plant-based glutathione food sources:

• avocado
• asparagus
• broccoli
• garlic
• spinach


• tomatoes
• squash
• okra
• cauliflower
• potatoes


• walnuts
• grapefruit
• brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• strawberries

Whey Protein May Be
the Best Glutathione Food Source

The best overall glutathione food source, by far, is a high quality non-denatured whey protein powder. Quality whey protein concentrate contains biologically-active proteins that provide all the key amino acids for glutathione production (cysteine, glycine and glutamate).

Whey protein is the liquid material that is left behind after the solids have been removed from cow’s milk. This is then dried into whey protein powder that is beneficial for building muscle, boosting energy, fighting toxins, reducing body fat, and countless other benefits.

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