Discover the power of glutathione
THE secret to clear, glowing skin lies in the liver, as it filters and flushes impurities from the body.
Skin conditions such as acne, skin dryness, itchy redness, dark circles under the eyes, premature ageing, liver spots, dull and uneven skin tone are common signs of a distressed liver.
An unhealthy liver can cause buildup of toxins in the body.
This is common among people who often stay up late, lead an inactive lifestyle and have an imbalanced diet.
Skin directly reflects the liver’s health condition, as it is the largest organ of the body and one of the means to eliminate toxic substances. When the liver is congested with toxins, the body responds by purging them through other channels, with the overload showing up on the face.
But when toxins overwhelm the skin, inflammatory factors and free radicals occur as skin problems.
For example, persistent skin rash on top of the feet and lower legs can be a sign of hepatitis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Besides the appearance of various skin problems, those who have a congested liver feel sluggish, have frequent headaches, general foggy state of mind, uncontrolled weight gain, mood swing or even discolouration of the eyes.
Glutathione – a natural antioxidant found in most food like vegetables and animal organs – helps the liver get rid of toxin build-up.
Glutathione is native to the body and is involved in every single bodily process.
It is also known as a life-saving molecule that delivers health benefits beyond just anti-ageing.
Glutathione is particularly concentrated in the liver. It is the master of antioxidants and a critical detoxifier.
Glutathione is able to resuscitate secondary antioxidants and it possesses high catalytic properties in the elimination of free radicals.
It also gives a second life to other secondary allies such as Vitamin C and E, which quenches only one free radical at one time.
Glutathione works by expelling toxins from the body via urine or bile.
Oral administration of glutathione is one of the potential therapeutic strategies to treat liver diseases and improve liver functions, it is recommended to take about 200mg to 300mg of glutathione per day for at least four months.(1)
Owing to its antioxidative power, glutathione is also able to suppress melanin production enzymes and prevent sun damage.
In a Japanese study, patented glutathione demonstrated promising effects on skin lightening and that includes lightening effect on UV spots.(2)
But not all glutathione is the same – a good-quality oral glutathione supplement should:
• have scientific proof of its absorption and bioavailability,
• be derived from food and not genetically modified, and
• is best formulated together with other potent antioxidants such as alpha lipoic acid and lycopene as studies show these enhance the antioxidative power of glutathione.
This information is brought to you by the in-house pharmacists of Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd.
References
Honda et al. 2017 Efficacy of glutathione (1) for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an open-label, single-arm, multicenter, pilot study. BMC Gastroenterol 17:96.
Arjinpathana N & Asawanonda P. 2010. (2)
Glutathione as an oral whitening agent: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Dermatological Treatment; Early Online, 1-6.
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