BY AUSTIN LETORNEY
FACT-CHECKED BY JOY FERGUSON
SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Grabbing a venti latte to get over an occasional energy slump is fine. But if you chug so much caffeine the neighborhood barista knows your name (and can spell it right on the cup), you’re trying to fix a bullet hole with a Band-Aid, bub.

Chronic lack of energy can stem from a crappy diet, an overabundance of stress, and too little exercise. Adopting healthier habits can help you feel refreshed and bursting with energy. But if you’re looking for an extra energy boost, consider glutathione (GSH).

Dubbed the “master antioxidant,” GSH is found in every cell of your body and can provide a steady flow of sustained energy to power you through the day.

Problem is, aging (GSH levels start to decline around your 25th birthday) and dealing with the trials of everyday life can deplete your stores, and leave you more comatose than conscious.

Here’s everything you need to know about how your body produces energy—and how glutathione can help you get more of it.

 

What Does Glutathione Do?

As an antioxidant, glutathione’s main job is to fight free radicals which can damage your cells.

“Free radicals are unstable and highly reactive molecules generated from natural metabolic processes and external toxins like smoking, pollution, and ultraviolet light,” says Jim Staheli, D.O., Medical Director at both Hone Health and Broad Health.

Not all free radicals are evil. For example, your body uses them to kill pathogens and regulate cell growth. But too many of them can overwhelm your natural antioxidant defenses and lead to oxidative stress, says Staheli.

Oxidative stress has been linked to chronic disorders including autoimmune disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, diabetes, fibromyalgia, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, Staheli says. You may also feel fatigue with low GSH levels, he adds.

Glutathione can raise your energy levels by fighting oxidative stress. But that’s not all, says Nayan Patel, Pharm.D., author of The Glutathione Revolution. Getting enough GSH also restores your body’s ability to repair itself and create energy.

“It removes the sluggishness, like taking a wet blanket off your body,” he says (1).