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The Strong Link Between Glutathione Deficiency & Unwanted Health Issues

The AHA! Team — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:16:31 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Research has shown that people suffering from an autoimmune condition virtually always have low levels of GSH. More than 100 different health problems – including joint and skin pain, blood sugar imbalances, and gut disorders – have an autoimmune component that turns into the immune system attacking the body’s organs, tissues, and cells. A major cause of all this pain and suffering is the ever-increasing barrage of environmental toxins and stressors depleting our bodies’ stores of glutathione. (often referred to as GSH) Important point: Research has shown that people suffering from an autoimmune condition virtually always have low levels of GSH. Conversely, having optimal levels of this “master antioxidant” can help modulate immune system reactions and reduce the risk of problems. Step one: What is the purpose of glutathione (GSH)? Glutathione, the body’s most powerful antioxidant, is a powerful detoxifier that binds to toxins and helps eliminate them. GSH is critical for immune function and for controlling inflammation and oxidative damage. Proper GSH activity modulates cell proliferation and protects mitochondria, the cells’ “powerhouses.” It also helps to promote peak physical functioning while increasing muscle tone and stamina. Don’t forget: the body’s ability to prevent – and recover from – chronic health issues depends on its ability to produce and maintain high levels of this life-sustaining molecule. GSH is synthesized in the body from the amino acids cysteine, glycine, and glutamine. While the body produces lavish amounts in youthful years, glutathione levels tend to decline as a normal part of the aging process. Keep in mind that many factors drain GSH from the body, including pharmaceutical drugs, environmental pollutants, hormonal imbalances, lack of sleep, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and alcohol use. Reduce the risk of immune system “flare-ups” Glutathione exists in the body in two forms: reduced GSH and oxidized GSH. Reduced glutathione is the form that actively combats free radicals. However, in the process, it gains an extra unpaired electron and becomes unstable, turning into oxidized glutathione. An enzyme known as glutathione reductase triggers the conversion back to its usable form. Many natural health experts maintain that oxidized glutathione must be recycled back into reduced glutathione to manage autoimmune disorders. In fact, studies have shown that promoting glutathione recycling helps regulate the immune system, reduce the autoimmune response, promote tissue recovery, and even heal “leaky gut.” In order to boost healthy glutathione recycling, the first order of business is to reduce the stressors that threaten glutathione levels. Some steps you may need to take include balancing blood sugar levels, addressing food intolerances, reducing your exposure to environmental toxins and pesticides, managing adrenal function, re-balancing the gut microbiome, and adopting an organic diet. Of course, it’s wise to consult with a holistic physician or health coach to help you decide. Selected supplements and natural compounds can enhance the body’s ability to recycle glutathione You can support glutathione recycling with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a biologically available form of cysteine that is rapidly turned into intracellular glutathione. Cell studies have shown that pretreatment with NAC raises glutathione levels in older cells while helping to reduce cell death. Alpha-lipoic acid helps to reverse depletion of glutathione that can occur as a result of stress, while the amino acid glutamine – a precursor to glutathione – can boost levels as well. Cordyceps, a medicinal fungus commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to protect cells by engaging the GSH enzyme cycle. In addition, studies have shown that an herb known as gotu kola (or Centella asiatica) can increase levels of GSH peroxidase. Finally, milk thistle extract can increase GSH recycling and help improve the ratios of reduced to oxidized GSH. Promote glutathione recycling with natural nutrients Eating moderate amounts of organic Brazil nuts, sardines, cage-free eggs, grass-fed beef, and spinach can raise levels of selenium, an antioxidant trace mineral essential for GSH recycling. Natural health experts also recommend organic, undenatured bio-active whey protein – a great source of cysteine – to enhance GSH production and recycling. Eating plentiful amounts of sulfur-containing foods, such as organic broccoli, garlic, onions, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale, can decrease oxidative stress and boost glutathione levels. Foods rich in B-complex vitamins, such as 100% grass-fed beef liver, organic pinto beans, lentils, and garbanzo beans, can aid the methylation process, which is essential to the production and recycling of GSH. Naturally, foods rich in vitamin C – like organic oranges, bell peppers, and strawberries – help convert oxidized GSH to its active form. And vitamin E – found in organic sunflower seeds and spinach – preserves enzymes that protect glutathione. In addition to helping to alleviate autoimmune conditions, GSH can be instrumental in helping to prevent blood sugar issues and neurodegenerative problems. It is difficult to think of a substance that is more vital to human health. Glutathione is simply too important to take for granted, and preserving and protecting it can pay off in major health ways. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Drknews.com To read the original article click here.

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Obesity’s Impacts on Our Immune System & Kidney & Liver Diseases

The AHA! Team — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 05:24:00 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – What are the effects of weight loss on natural killer cell function, our first line of immune defense against cancer, kidney function, and fatty liver disease? In the ABCs of the health consequences of obesity, I is for Immunity. The SOS trial followed the fates of thousands of bariatric surgery patients for a decade or two, compared to a control group who maintained their weight. Those who surgically lost about 20 percent of their body weight not only lived longer, thanks in part to less diabetes and less cardiovascular disease, but they also got less cancer. This may be because anti-tumor immunity appears to be affected by weight. Natural killer cells are our immune system’s first line of defense against cancer cells and many viral infections, “and their function is severely impaired in individuals with obesity.” When individuals who were obese were randomized to a weight-loss program, researchers found a significant reactivation of the participants’ natural killer cell function within just three months. The program involved an exercise component, though, so it’s hard to tease out the impact of the weight loss itself since physical activity on its own can boost natural killer cell activity. On the other end of the immune spectrum, obesity is suspected to be a causal risk factor for the development of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. This suggests obesity is associated with the worst of both worlds when it comes to immune function: underactivity when it comes to protecting against cancer and infection, and overactivity when it comes to certain inflammatory autoimmune conditions. J is for Jaundice. Thanks to the obesity epidemic, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is now the most common liver disorder in the industrialized world. Fat doesn’t just end up in our belly and thighs but inside some of our internal organs. More than 80 percent of individuals with abdominal obesity may have fatty infiltration into their liver, and in those with severe obesity, the prevalence can exceed 90 percent. This can lead to inflammation, scarring, and, ultimately, cirrhosis and liver cancer, as you can see below and a 2:10 in my video The Effects of Obesity on the Immune System and Kidney and Liver Diseases. Currently, this nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis is the leading cause of liver transplants in American women. K is for Kidneys. Obesity is also “one of the strongest risk factors for new-onset chronic kidney disease.” Our kidneys compensate for the metabolic demands of excess weight by red-lining into what’s called “hyperfiltration” to deal with the extra workload. This resulting increased pressure within our kidneys can damage the sensitive structures and increase the risk of kidney failure over the long term. What about L, M, N, O, P through Z? If you want to continue through the alphabet, L could be for diminished lung function, M could be for metabolic syndrome, and so on. There is even an X—for xiphodynia—pain at the tip of the bottom of the breastbone from being bent forward by an expanding abdomen. Given the myriad health conditions associated with excess weight, “annual medical spending attributable to an obese individual” is nearly $2,000 per year and workers who are obese with multiple conditions can cost companies up to $10,000 more in healthcare coverage compared to “their lean counterpart.” Wage Gap This may account for some of the wage gap that employees who are obese may experience, as companies try to pass along these costs of “their higher health insurance premiums,” beyond just brazen discrimination. Between healthcare costs and diminished productivity in terms of lost workdays, the total lifetime costs of obesity for children and teens have been estimated to exceed $150,000. Estimates Some estimates peg the annual “medical care costs of obesity in the United States” at about $150 billion, with another $50 billion per year added by 2030 as our increasingly heavy Baby Boomers continue to age. Others diametrically disagree, based on the morbid fact that individuals who are obese may not live as long. Just as “the high medical costs of smoking-related diseases are more than offset by lower survival of smokers,” the lifetime healthcare costs of individuals who are obese may turn out to be lower because they are expected to die so much sooner. So, the true cost may be more in lives, rather than dollars. How much does being overweight cut your life short? I’ll explore just that question next. If you missed the previous blog posts in my series on the ABCs of obesity, see related posts below. I continue the topic of obesity and weight with these videos: Is the Obesity Paradox Real or a Myth? and Friday Favorites: What’s the Ideal BMI and Waist Size?. For more on the health conditions discussed in this video, see the immune function, kidney disease, and liver health topic pages. Key Takeaways In the SOS trial, individuals who lost 20 percent of their body weight through surgery lived longer and had lower rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, possibly due to improved immune function. Obesity impairs natural killer cells, weakening the body’s defense against cancer and infections, while also increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. Obesity is a major cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to liver inflammation, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, now the leading cause of liver transplants in U.S. women. Excess weight places metabolic stress on the kidneys, leading to hyperfiltration and increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease and eventual kidney failure. Obesity-related health conditions contribute to higher medical costs, lost productivity, and a lifetime financial burden, with annual obesity-related medical costs in the United States, for instance, estimated at $150 billion. To read the original article click here.

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An Antidiabetic Helps the Immune System Recognize Reservoirs of HIV

The AHA! Team — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 08:29:56 +0000

Universite de Montreal via Newswise – Metformin, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, could help deplete the viral reservoir and eliminate it entirely in people living with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy, Canadian researchers say in a new study. In 2021, a team led by immunologist Petronela Ancuta of Université de Montréal’s affiliated hospital research centre, the CRCHUM, showed that metformin, when taken for three months, improved patients’ immunity and reduced the chronic inflammation usually associated with complications such as cardiovascular disease. One reason these benefits are so effective is that metformin inhibits the activity of the mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) molecule, which in turn slows down HIV replication in the cells of patients infected with the virus. In the journal iScience, Ancuta and her student Augustine Fert, the study’s first author and a recent Ph.D. holder, go further. They studied the molecular mechanisms of action of metformin on HIV replication in CD4 T lymphocytes, which are immune system cells that provide shelter for the virus. In these reservoirs, HIV keeps on replicating, which contributes to the chronic inflammation by constantly activating the immune system. “The results of our in vitro tests on cells from people living with HIV and treated with antiretroviral therapy caught us off guard at first,” said Ancuta. “They were a bit surprising. We discovered that metformin had both a proviral and an antiviral effect. The drug helped boost the number of HIV-infected cells, while also stopping the virus from escaping the cell.” Antibodies to the rescue Another benefit of metformin is that it overexpresses the BST2 protein, which acts as a kind of glue to keep virions clinging to the surface of HIV-infected cells. The immune system then spots them and can target them with antibodies. “Together with my colleague Andrés Finzi, we tested the ability of several broad-spectrum neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies to recognize viral reservoir cells after metformin exposure in vitro,” said Ancuta. “Some of them recognized the virus very well, suggesting their ability to attract and trigger the destruction of infected cells by NK cells through a process of cellular cytotoxicity.” These recent scientific advances mean that the “shock-and-kill” eradication strategy, often used in the fight against HIV, can be foreseen in a different way, she added. “In people living with HIV and treated with antiretroviral therapy, we could use metformin to reactivate the reservoir cells responsible for viral replication upon treatment interruption, in combination with antibodies that are already used clinically and well tolerated. These antibodies can then detect the rare infected cells and eliminate them.” In the next phase of her research, Ancuta plans to launch a clinical trial to validate her in vitro research results, in collaboration with Finzi and their CRCHUM colleague Nicolas Chomont, and Jean-Pierre Routy of the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute. Before she can move forward with this strategy, she will test it in preclinical models. About this study “Metformin facilitates viral reservoir reactivation and their recognition by anti-HIV-1 envelope antibodies,” by Augustine Fert under the supervision of Petronela Ancuta et al., was published online in iScience on Aug. 8, 2024. The study received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Consortium for HIV Cure Research (CanCURE), the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), the International AIDS Society (IAS), the Fonds de recherche du Québec and the Fondation du CHUM. Also involved in the study were Dominique Gauchat, Philippe Ste-Onge and Gaël Dulude of the CRCHUM’s cytometry platform, and Olfa Debbeche and Laurent Knafo of the CRCHUM’s containment level 3 (CL3) platform, as well as Mario Legault of the Réseau VIH/SIDA-Maladies infectieuses. To read the original article click here.

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Curbing Candida: The Cells That Keep Fungal Infections at Bay

AHA Publisher — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:00:19 +0000

Weizmann Institute of Science via Newswise – Of all the fungi that live in the human body, the most infamous is probably the yeast Candida. This distant cousin of baker’s yeast is notorious for causing various types of thrush that can be a major nuisance, but it can also lead to an invasive infection that may, on occasion, prove fatal. In a study published today in Nature Immunology, a Weizmann Institute of Science research team headed by Prof. Jakub Abramson uncovered a previously unknown defense mechanism employed by the immune system in fighting Candida infections. Candida is present at low levels in the bodies of most healthy people, forming part of the microbiome – a diverse spectrum of microbes that reside peacefully in our gut and on our skin. Under normal circumstances, Candida is held in check by the immune system, but it can occasionally grow excessively, invading the lining of the mouth, the vagina, the skin or other parts of the body. In severe cases, it can spread to the bloodstream and from there to the kidneys. Such life-threating infections may occur when a person’s immune system has been weakened, for example, by AIDS or by immunosuppressive drugs such as cancer chemotherapy or steroids. Antibiotics, which wipe out many of the beneficial bacteria within our microbiome, can also unleash local or invasive Candida eruptions by providing this yeast with an unfair advantage vis-à-vis other microorganisms. That’s why, for instance, women sometimes develop a vaginal yeast infection after taking antibiotics. Until now, the immune cells that got most of the credit for defending the body against Candida were the small, round lymphocytes of the T cell type, called TH17. These cells were also the ones to take the blame when this defense failed. In the new study, postdoctoral fellow Dr. Jan Dobeš, working together with colleagues in Abramson’s lab in Weizmann’s Immunology and Regenerative Biology Department, discovered that a powerful commando unit of TH17 cells capable of fighting Candida cannot be generated without crucial early support from an entirely different contingent: a subset of rare lymphoid cells known as type-3 innate lymphoid cells, or ILC3, that express a gene called the autoimmune regulator, or Aire The two groups of cells belong to the two different arms of the immune system, which, like foot patrols and specialized units, join forces against a common enemy. The Aire-ILC3s – part of the more ancient, innate arm – spring into action almost immediately upon encountering a threat – in this case, a Candida infection. The TH17s belong to the immune system’s more recent, adaptive arm, which takes several days or even weeks to respond, but which launches a much more targeted and potent attack than the innate one. The scientists found that as soon as Candida starts infecting tissues, the Aire-ILC3s engulf the yeast whole, chop them up and display some of the yeast pieces on their surfaces. That’s how these bits are presented to the TH17s, a few of which are generally on call in the lymph nodes, ready for an infection alert. This kind of presentation instructs the specialized T cells to start dividing rapidly, soaring in number from a few lone commandos to several hundred or even thousands of Candida-specific fighters, capable of destroying the yeast at the sites of infection. “We have identified a previously unrecognized immune system weapon that is indispensable for orchestrating an effective response against the fungal infection,” Abramson says. Abramson became intrigued by Candida because it commonly leads to severe, chronic infections in people with a rare autoimmune syndrome caused by defects in the Aire gene. Abramson’s lab had conducted extensive studies of this gene, helping to clarify its role in preventing autoimmune disorders. That research, as well as studies by other scientists, had shown that Aire-expressing cells in the thymus instruct developing T cells to refrain from attacking the body’s own tissues. When Aire is defective, T cells fail to receive proper instructions, consequently causing widespread autoimmunity that wreaks havoc in multiple body organs. But one puzzle remained: Why would Aire-deficient patients suffering from a devastating autoimmune syndrome also develop chronic Candida infections? While trying to complete the Aire puzzle, Dobeš and colleagues found that outside the thymus, Aire is also expressed in a small subset of ILC3s in the lymph nodes. The researchers then genetically engineered two groups of mice: One lacked Aire in the thymus, and the other group lacked it in the ILC3s in the lymph nodes. The first group developed autoimmunity but was able to successfully fight off Candida. In contrast, those in the second group, the ones lacking Aire in ILC3s, did not suffer from autoimmunity, but were unable to generate numerous Candida-specific TH17s. Consequently, they failed to effectively eliminate Candida infections. In other words, without Aire-expressing ILC3s, the specialized T cells needed for fighting Candida were not produced in sufficient numbers. “We found an entirely new role for Aire, one that it plays in the lymph nodes – turning on a mechanism that increases the numbers of Candida-fighting T cells,” Dobeš explains. These findings open up new directions of research that in the future may help develop new treatments for severe Candida, and possibly for other fungal infections. The newly discovered mechanism might, for example, help produce large numbers of Candida-fighting T cells to be used in cell therapy. And if scientists one day identify the signals by which Aire-ILC3s boost T cell proliferation, these signals themselves might provide the basis for new therapies. Study participants also included Osher Ben-Nun, Amit Binyamin, Dr. Yael Goldfarb, Dr. Noam Kadouri, Yael Gruper, Tal Givony and Itay Zalayat of Weizmann‘s Immunology and Regenerative Biology Department; Dr. Liat Stoler-Barak and Prof. Ziv Shulman of the Systems Immunology Department; Katarína Kováčová, Helena Böhmová and Evgeny Valter of Charles University, Prague; Bergithe E. Oftedal and Prof. Eystein S. Husebye of the University of Bergen, Norway; and Dr. Dominik Filipp of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague. To read the original article click here.

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Flu Season Protection: Discover How Ginseng Supports a Strong Immune System

AHA Publisher — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 08:00:34 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – Don’t become a medical statistic – this coming flu season. Today, we’ll talk about how ginseng can help to support a strong immune system response. As you probably know: seasonal influenza can be a rapidly-spreading and highly contagious health issue that leads to 291,000 and 645,000 fatalities worldwide every year. Although most healthy adults recover from bouts of the flu with nothing more serious than unpleasant memories of fever, aches and pains, the fact is that a flu can and does increase the risk of premature death – in people with a compromised immune system. Making the situation even more dire is the fact that unexpected new pandemics, like COVID-19 – for which Western medicine has no “cure” – can emerge without warning. In truth, too many conventionally-trained physicians simply lack the fundamental level of education to handle immune deficient, health-related conditions. Scientific research reveals the lifesaving power of ginseng In a study published in the April 2014 edition of Nutrients, red Korean ginseng improved the survival rate of human lung epithelial cells that had been infected with influenza A, along with reducing the expression of inflammation-causing genes. In addition, researchers found that Korean ginseng helped to treat influenza by modifying the immune systems of mice with clinically-induced influenza A, causing them to develop increased levels of antiviral proteins. This is exciting information, especially when you consider the danger of flu vaccines. And the news on ginseng gets even better – another new study, published in International Journal of Molecular Medicine, supports ginseng’s ability to prevent and treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a disease for which there is currently no conventional remedy. RSV, the single most common cause of pneumonia and small-airway lung inflammations in babies under a year old, can also be extremely dangerous in older adults. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in adults over 65 every year. Bottom line – you can eliminate the threat of pneumonia safely and effectively – without the need for toxic medications. Reduce your risk of chronic inflammation and viral activity Researchers found that Korean red ginseng attacked RSV in a style very similar to the way it combated influenza A: reducing damage to lung cells, suppressing the expression of inflammatory genes and inhibiting the virus’ ability to spread in the body. Animals given red ginseng orally had lower viral levels than those that had not been given this herb, along with increased production of dendritic cells – which create virus-fighting interferons. Red ginseng also fights viruses by stimulating production of natural killer cells and T-cells and boosting the power of the body’s own antioxidant defense systems. True ginseng exists in two different forms: American, or Panax quinquefolius, and Asian or Korean, scientifically known as Panax ginseng. Although they have similar active ingredients – a group of compounds called ginsenosides – their effects can differ. The most recent studies were performed with red Panax ginseng, but American ginseng has also shown immune-boosting properties. A third type, known as Siberian ginseng, is unrelated and does not have the same constituents. A powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, this herb can help to reduce the risk of serious chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. It is also used to promote energy, reduce fatigue, improve cognitive function and memory, and elevate mood and quality of life. Famous for boosting immunity and preventing disease In a well-known study published in 1996 in Drugs Under Experimental and Clinical Research, researchers found that ginseng potentiated the flu vaccine, making it more effective. A group of 227 volunteers were split into two roughly equal groups and given either placebo or 400 milligrams of ginseng daily for 12 weeks; both groups received an anti-influenza vaccination at week four. While 42 people in the placebo group eventually developed influenza or colds between weeks four and 12, only 15 people in the “herb enhanced” group fell ill – a dramatic difference! The ginseng group also experienced decreased intensity of symptoms and a shorter duration of the illness. Which type of ginseng is best for flu prevention? Most studies on ginseng’s beneficial effects – as well as the two latest studies – have been done with red Korean ginseng, also known as Panax ginseng. Ginseng is available both as “white,” which has been peeled and dried, and “red,” which is steamed before drying and unpeeled. You can get the Korean form as a liquid extracts, powder and capsules; it is also available as a root, which can be boiled to make a decoction. Just be careful to buy the Korean variety only from trusted, reputable companies; cases of substitutions and adulterations have been reported. Ginseng can interact with medications and other herbs and supplements; consult with an integrative physician beforetaking it, especially if you have high blood pressure or autoimmune disease. Most experts advise taking ginseng in cycles, with a two-week period of ginseng supplementation followed by three weeks without the herb. One final note: Due to its stimulating effect, ginseng can theoretically cause nervousness and sleeplessness; this is more likely with very high amounts. Other side effects are uncommon, but could include headache and digestive disturbances. And, because this herb can lower blood sugar levels, it should be taken with food. No doubt, the current COVID-19 pandemic and past issues like the H1N1 virus highlight the need for better research on protecting us against unexpected and new viral strains. But, the research featured (today) about the value of herbal medicine should give us hope. There is a natural (safe) way to support our immune system and stay healthy – even in these troubling times of uncertainty. Never forget the value of good (organic) food and herbal medicine to protect your life. Sources for this article include: Medicinenet.com, Sciencedaily.com, NIH.gov, NIH.gov, NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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