Welcome to Part 2 of our two-part series about glutathione treatments. In Part 1, “The Mother of All Antioxidants,” we explained the importance of maintaining a healthy ratio of reduced-to-oxidized glutathione, presented common illnesses that arise when imbalances are left untreated, explained the benefits of reduced glutathione (GSH), and revealed the risks of “self-medicating” with over-the-counter GSH supplements.
In this part — Treating Common Health Conditions with Glutathione — the focus shifts to specific illnesses and other health conditions that can be improved with the addition of glutathione supplementation, and we also explain the types of glutathione supplementation we use here at BioDesign Wellness Center (because the method of delivery can have a big impact on its effectiveness).
Lung Diseases
Smoking tobacco causes oxidative damage to lung cells mainly due to the additives in most tobacco products. Research shows glutathione can help to clear the oxidative damage in the lungs and throughout the rest of the body caused by those additives.
The key to treatment is to deliver the glutathione directly to the lungs, specifically to the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) in the lower respiratory tract. This can be done through nebulized GSH. Nebulized GSH is a mist that is inhaled into the lungs. At BioDesign Wellness Center, we provide patients with a kit for nebulizing glutathione along with a therapeutic dose of glutathione that can be administered at home or in the office.
Diabetes and Related Conditions
Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high blood sugar levels. Chronically high blood sugar causes oxidative damage that can contribute to a number of serious illnesses, including disease, stroke, and cancer. Current research suggests that Alzheimer’s and dementia are actually forms of brain diabetes, sometimes referred to as type 3 diabetes.
At BioDesign Wellness, we treat blood sugar imbalance with a two-pronged approach to 1) restore the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and 2) reduce the oxidative stress resulting from the high blood sugar. Proper diet, exercise, and nutrient supplementation support the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, while glutathione reduces the oxidative stress.
When using glutathione as an adjunct to treat diabetes and related conditions, we administer it through a combination of intramuscular injections and oral liposomal supplementation. (A liposome is a tiny ball made out of the same material as a cell membrane. Embedding the GSH in liposomes improves its delivery to and uptake by the cells that need it.)
